National Show 2009

The 16mm Association National Garden Railway Show 2009

An update on the 2009 Show from Nigel Town

It looks like all the planning paid off, and the team bagged another successful event at the weekend. I hope those of you who came enjoyed it and the event met your expectations. Some noteworthy facts;

The attendance was slightly up on last year.
The Member to member sales financial turnover was greater (this may be down to an increased number of item passing through the sales team or fewer items of more value)
The prize draw sales were up on last year (just wait until you find out what Ian has lined up for next years star prize, I know, but would hate to steal Ian’s thunder)
More traders attended
More exhibitors exhibited

The initial view on the financial outcome good in so much as the costs fell broadly in line with the monies budgeted. The area which puzzles us remains the competition classes. Neil was surprised to find that we were around 25 entries down on where we’ve been previously with the Moty competition entries. If you’ve got any views on this we’d like to hear them. For my part I was asked to judge the Gordon Diplock category, what a challenge – my bias is away from the whimsy, however looking at the models entered I “saw the light”. Whilst the models entered were of a whimsy nature that did not detract of their modelling ingenuity in any measure. My congratulations to all the Moty entrants, in all classes. I thought the standard was high this year Neil Bowden tells me that in the rolling stock category for example the twelve entries were only split by 15% of the marks available. Well done to all entrants we were very impressed. What would it take to see your model in there next year?

Personally the high point of the day was seeing the junior wagons run, they made an awesome sight. Brian Dominic has posted a “You tube” clip of the 32mm ones running on Mount Dowd. Click here to see the video. I was delighted to see the diversity of their models, I am very grateful to Richard and Shirley Longley for their support with this activity.

The thank-you’s;

To everyone who bought a ticket and came along
The organising team, not just thank you for the 2009 event but also your pledges to do the same again in 2010.
The exhibitors, thank you for bringing your best toys for us all to see.
Finally the event stewards, the Friday team the early morning Saturday team, the during the show team, the car park team and the clear-up team.

My thanks to each of you for giving up your time to aid the smooth running of the event.

Planning starts in earnest in July for the 2010 event. If you’ve any ideas or would like to be part of the team get in touch, chairman@16mm.org.uk

Nigel
7th April 2009

Grand Prize Draw Winners

Finescale Talyllyn "Dolgoch" - Ticket 16877 - P Brien
Roundhouse Penrhyn "Charles" - Ticket 5484 - R Boothman
Accucraft W & LLR "Countess" - Ticket 27483 - F A Shepherd
Brandbright Baguley Drewry diesel - Ticket 16696 - Mr Harris (Camden
Miniature Steam Services)
Accucraft "Edrig" - Ticket 21741 - P Geall
Welshpool & Llanfair L R Driver Experience Course - Ticket 19979 - Dr R A Williams
Accucraft W & LLR Brake Composite Coach - Ticket 16819 - S Burnett
Brandbright three Ffestiniog four wheel coach kits - Ticket 13920 - G East
Brian Jones Spektrum DX6i 2.4GHz radio combo - Ticket 2566 - J Linkins
Handcrafted Pottery Island station & Hut - Ticket 17918 - D Allington
Back 2 Bay 6 Jigstones starter set - Ticket 20694 - I Jackson
Atropos Corris four wheel carriage kit - Ticket 11272 - I Holland
John Prescott Engineering 300mm Rolling road - Ticket 912 - T Lindenfermor
Association Waistcoat - Ticket 1936 - M Thacker
Association fleece Ticket 12324 - J Thompson
Association Polo shirt - Ticket 10656 - K Bull

Additional Prizes
I P Engineering Ruston Loco kit - Ticket 16138 - R Booth
I P Engineering Lollipop Railcar kit - Ticket 10211 - J Clements
I P Engineering 3 Compartment Coach kit - Ticket 28063 - D Hubbard

Some photos from the National Garden Railway Show 2009 by Tez Pickthall

Here are some photos from this years show. Click on each image if you want to see a larger version

A general view of the hall before the all-important opening time	A majestic line-up of vintage locos catch the morning sun as one of the Phurcombe Hall team makes some last minute adjustments to the display
The Andrew Neal MOTY trophy awaits it's proud recipient	Ian Shields hold court whilst performing the grand draw
Ian Shields works the audience during the grand draw	More excited visitors await early doors. This is the queue for pay-on-the-day tickets
The first admissions make a beeline for Hall 1, the 16mm Mecca!	The M-2-M sales stand was as popular as ever, but you needed sharp elbows to grab a bargain!
For many the jewel in the grand prize draw crown. It certainly made me buy more tickets and if the record sales are anything to go by, I wasn't alone!	A Roundhouse Katie fails to distract the legendary Peter Angus from chatting to a visitor on Tony Bird's Rhydypenderyn layout
Our erstwhile editor with one of our furthest travelled visitors, who had come all the way from Japan for the show!	The lentil soup works railway, a fun and engaging layout for both children and clearly adults alike, proving G-Scale layouts aren't all just track and long trains
A busy scene on St Genny's, Andrew Neale's super little layout, with support from the Bedfordshire Area Group	A nicely detailed G-Scale layout, Hampton End
For the first time the show hosted a publicity and layout stand from the G-Scale Society. A reciprocal arrangement will see the Association visit their annual show G-Rail on the 25th April	Caption competition??? Clag from a freshly lit beast on Ttarrag Sheds!
Nigel runs a well attended AGM	William receives a whimsical token, but nevertheless heartfelt token of our appreciation for the many years of hard work he has put in for the Association as a Director