An Irishman has carried off the most coveted prize awarded by the New Zealand Rose Society for a new rose at its national convention in Palmerston North. A new shrub rose bred by David Kenny and entered by Tasman Bay Roses of Motueka was awarded the Gold Star of the South Pacific Award at the international rose trial grounds at the Esplanade yesterday.
The russet red, free-flowering rose has yellow stamens, and was judged on its performance over two years’ growth. Mr Kenny, a rose breeder for 30 years, said he was shocked to win the prize. That was partly because the rose did not look as spectacular as some others on the day – the first time he had seen it growing in the trial grounds.
But the judges had been watching its progress through the seasons to assess it as the new rose that was most likely to succeed. Mr Kenny said the rose, named Kentrooper, took some of its genetic material from a traditional red, ground-cover rose from the Netherlands.
“Back in Europe landscape roses are very popular, and we have been trying to get good, healthy varieties developed.”
His part of the process involved many hours in the glasshouse, painstakingly hand-pollinating to establish the new line. It was then grown on at Tasman Bay, and trialled in Palmerston North. The whole process can take eight to 10 years before a new rose is released commercially.
The other award for trial roses, the newly-renamed Nola Simpson Novelty Award, went to English breeder Chris Warner for a pink floribunda called Bright as a Button. Back at Arena Manawatu, hundreds of people visited the International Rose show hosted by the Manawatu Rose Society.
Veteran exhibitors Derrol and Helen White from Whangarei carried off the award for champion of champions, decorative miniature, with a perfect Glowing Amber bloom. The couple’s rose collection had to survive the best part of a two-day drive, with enough blooms arriving in good condition for almost every section of the competition.
“But there were a lot of others that were not perfect when we got here.”
The champion of champion large rose was exhibited by Janice Walker, with a perfect example of Reflections, a rose bred by the late Nola Simpson of Palmerston North. The show, awards presentation and ongoing convention in Palmerston North have been attended by rose enthusiasts from 20 countries, many of whom are continuing on a Roses Down Under tour.
