Royal Adelaide Show

[Andrew Ward]

A brief reminder of the urgency to register entries for this year's Royal Adelaide Show .... Bonsai Section!

Registration closes this Friday ... 25 June.

There are three sections for judging
1. Artistic (Advanced and Novice) - judging 1.00pm Thursday 2 September with exhibit in show until removal on Sunday 12 September
2. Deciduous - judging 1.00pm Thursday 2 September with removal of exhibits on either evening of Monday 6 September or Tuesday 7 September (prior to evergreen section being staged)
3. Evergreen - judging 11.00am Tuesday 7 September with removal on Sunday 12 September.

Excact details can be found at the Royal Adelaide Showground Website
http://www.adelaideshowground.com.au/pu ... sp?id=2956

Prize money has been reviewed .... and first and second place winners receive substantial prize money. Additionally Keith Walters is offering a $100 cash prize for 'Best Bonsai in Show'. The prizes for the Artistic section are extremely worthwhile ... Open is $80 for first and $40 for second; Novice is $60 for first and $30 for second.

Qualifying for Advanced or Novice ... is different from club competition. A Novice is anyone who has not won a first prize in bonsai at any Royal Show ... however an exhibitor can not exhibit in both Novice and Open Sections.

There are entry fees associated with placing bonsai into the Royal Show ... generally $8 per exhibit (artistic section is $12) ... however exhibitors who have entries totalling over $50 will receive a full show pass that entitles them to entry to the show throughout this year's show (Membership is normally $125). Others who exhibit less than $50 of exhibits will receive a single pass.

The Royal Adelaide Show has secured Marie Petersen as judge, I am stewarding ... everyone is assured of a qualified and fair competition.

Regarding SECURITY ... I did test it out last year ... and it took security people about 10 seconds to 'jump on me' when I entered the "Munns and More" Display Area to make my way to one of my bonsai that I had on loan! Regarding PLANT HEALTH and WATERING ... plant health has been improved through having shorter indoor exhibition times for Deciduous and Evergreen Sections (sorry ... staging for Artisitic requires that these remain in throughout the show). With the complimentary passes I am sure that access to look after our plants will not be an issue ... I will personally commit to visit the exhibition area on a daily basis to ensure the plants are adequately watered also.

Please encourage others to exhibit ... this is a wonderful opportunity for us to promote bonsai, our clubs, and our passion to others in the broader community. The Royal Adelaide Show has certainly been very open to suggestions about improvements to accomodate our needs. Without the support of others in the SA Bonsai Community ... we may lose this opportunity. Please spread the word to others you think might interested in exhibiting.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to phone me on 0417 849 430 ... BUT ...

Either way ... Entries need to be with the Royal Adelaide Show by this Friday ... 25 June (you can place entries and pay for entries via the Royal Adelaide Show website)!!!

[Andrew Ward]

Hopefully SA Bonsai people are sorting through 'potential' bonsai to exhibit in the Royal Adelaide Show. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to encourage, motivate and promote bonsai to the wider community.