Bonsai The Review - Federation of British Bonsai Societies

British New Talent Winner goes to Germany
Text and pictures supplied by Kath Hughes
A major feature of this excellent European Bonsai Association event held in
Ratingen, Germany on Sept. 30 th -Oct. 2 nd, were the finals of the European ‘New Talent
Competition’. Sixteen enthusiastic finalists from different European member countries
kept their audience entranced over a four hour period. The competitors worked on
virtually identical Juniperus chinensis brought over from Japan- the results were
sixteen uniquely different trees ranging from informal upright to semi-cascade styles.
The quality of some of the bonsai produced again made judging difficult; the awards
for the best created trees were presented at the Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening,
the overall winner being Walter Schmutz, representing Switzerland. Carl Hawkins from
the UK put on an excellent performance with his tree (pictured). As the winner of the
UK heats he was assisted by FoBBS in attending the event to represent the UK.
His resulting tree was a credit to him and he came a well justified fifth in very strong
competition.
Carl Hawkins
BTA Sheffield 2011
Report by Alan Harriman
WHAT A GREAT SHOW! The BTA have done it again at Sheffield. The trade hall was packed
throughout the day and the standard of display and competition trees just get better every year. All
together making a fantastic day, helped along by the two bonsai artists,
Alex Evelyn and Rob Atkinson. The Best Tree in Show award went to Des Lloyd for an evergreen. If
you have not yet discovered this gem of a show, then get yourself to Don Valley Stadium next year-
23 rd September 2012.
Alan Harriman will be standing down from organising the regular Bonsai Expo North for
the BTA at Sheffield. He deserves great thanks for making this event happen, ever since about
nineteen-hundred-and-frozen-to-death!
First BTA next year 22 nd April- Ryton on Dunsmore near Coventry.
Alan Harriman
BR52/2