Page 23 - Simply Veg 1 2024

soon but felt it rude not to partake. Our stewards came and found us, explained the system in operation and then it was into battle. We started, with the “7 kinds” vegetable collections of which there were five, and set about identifying a standard dish and pointed common elements across the exhibits. Out of the corner of my eye
I saw the daunting task that followed,
ten “5 kinds” collections and the salad collections beyond. We stuck to the task of the “7 kinds” moving on to the uncommon elements and we were done.
I hadn’t judged much with Keith before but we seemed to gel well and were able to evaluate the next class of “5 kinds” collections in good time. Then on to the root and salad collections. After these
we started on the tomato classes of
which there are 6, 5 single dishes then culminating in the tomato display of a minimum of three varieties, exhibited in
a trug or basket. The potato collection followed, 4 dishes of 5, 4 separate varieties, and there were 6 entries. Only three
were really in contention and we quickly identified the placings. Two single dish spud classes, then it was on to the roots. As we were aware that we had to choose some best dish contenders, we made a mental note of the winning parsnip exhibit as it was one of the best, if not the best dish we had judged so far.
On to the alliums starting with the onion collection. Sadly we had to NAS one of
the exhibits as most of its pickling shallots didn’t pass the size test. An additional casualty was the only blanched leek exhibit as it fell quite a bit short of the minimum required 350mm button to root plate measurement.
All of a sudden the end was in sight, just 26 classes to go. Peas and beans finished and on to the salads where there were some really large aubergines taking the top honours in their class and only uniformity separating them from the parsnips we
had seen earlier. On to brassicas and
some sizable cabbages in both green and red classes. It was now just a downhill coast through the cucurbits to “any other vegetable not having a class of its own”,
as if there are any other vegetable kinds,
as this show has such a comprehensive selection of classes. Finally herbs and done. Just the small matter of the best collection in the division. We quickly agreed on the “5 kinds” collection and had our dish of parsnips as our contender for best horticultural exhibit. We consulted with the judges of the other horticultural divisions and it was clear that the best exhibit had
to be awarded Ivor Mace’s 5 vases of carnations. A stunning exhibit that attracted much admiration from exhibitors and the visiting public alike.
So we made it. A little over 3 hours and the job was done. Time for a well-earned, and most excellent lunch in the members’ marquee, where we had a chance to chat to some of the other judges and exchange stories of past events and legends of show circuit. But no rest for the wicked, it was time to man the NVS promotional stand. In addition to our judging responsibilities we had also been asked to take part in a number of other show activities. I had a live interview on BBC Radio Somerset, and another with a presenter from Apple FM, another local radio station as part of their “In Conversation with” series of chats, running over the two days of the show. Keith didn’t get off lightly however, he
had to sit on a Gardeners Question Time panel and face a barrage of questions from the active audience. Then it was back to the stand for more chats, and advice
on growing and showing. I think that we probably got a few more members from the event as there was a lot of interest in the NVS and a number of folks took away application packs and showed a genuine interest in the society.
Whilst on the stand I was asked to do just one more interview by a gentleman making a YouTube documentary of the show. In for a penny, I was happy to help him out.
The day was coming to an end and we were starting to feel a bit drained from
our early start and our very eventful and fulfilling day. We had never judged such
a volume of exhibits before at a show but we came through it unscathed. It was a tiring but very enjoyable day. We were able to be around and talk to exhibitors about our decisions and our thought processes
in coming to them. One of the key roles of
a judge as we see it. We were given the opportunity to judge one of the biggest shows around and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would we do it all again? Well we’ve been asked to pencil it in for next year by the organisers, so of course we will. Having discovered the Taunton Flower Show, last year and now been a real part of it this year, I would strongly recommend it as a top showing event or for those non exhibitors amongst you, as a grand day out.
Taunton Flower Show 2024, Aug 2nd and 3rd, www.tauntonfs.co.uk
Simply Vegetables 23