SHOW: Report from Tucson
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: SHOW: Report from Tucson
- From: G* S* <g*@loop.com>
- Date: Sat, 25 Apr 1998 23:08:35 -0600 (MDT)
Just got back from a beautiful show in the desert. The Queen of the Show came
down to a Louisiana (Exquisite Lady) vs. a Spuria (Imperial Ruby). EL, lavender
with large yellow signal, had two huge blooms open, one of which had a little
wind damage. IR, deep purplish/brownish red with a small yellow signal, had a
single bloom and no imperfections. One judge kept insisting that EL should win
because it would be more impressive to the public. I thought that perfection
should prevail. My side won (eventually).
Best TB came down to Michigan Pride, large variegata, vs. Sky Hooks, classic
space-ager. MP had three majestic blooms, all with some wind damage and one with
a semi-circular hole of about one half inch (1 cm) on the edge of one fall. It
was awesome, though. SH had two open blooms and little in the way of defects.
Almost the same discussions took place (plus "the hole was eaten by a bee, so
it's natural, and should not be deducted"). SH won.
How valid do y'all think anticipating the public's favorites is as a judging
criterion? It seems to me that educating the public is more important.
Also, how about the almost universal judgement that an opening bloom is better
than a closing one? It seems to me that the handbook says that a bloom is judged
as it appears at that time, period. If its form is not what it should be fully
opened, points have to be deducted. Whether it is opening or closing is
irrelevant. I have almost never found a judge who agreed, and you can probably
delete the "almost." Is this a case of tradition being stronger than the law?
I apologize if my questions seem like answers--I am really trying to learn, and
if you can give the "why" behind answer I would appreciate it.
Gerry, still glowing from two shows in two days
--
gcsnyd@loop.com AIS Region 15
Warm, winterless Los Angeles
President of San Fernando Valley Iris Society
My work? Helping generate data for http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo
