Summer National 2011 Review
This years SummerNational was probably the best attended event for some years, and indicated how strong the bottle collecting hobby is at present. Shown to the right is the queue for early entry on the first morning, going all the way to the main road. There were stalls inside and out, and you could spend a leisurely hour meandering about just looking at the displays and quality bottles on show. Myself, Ivan Kerridge, Mark Watts and Ian Watts had a joint stall but spent most of the time simply buying and talking bottles with other collectors. It was a blisteringly hot two days and we were glad we had shelter from the sun inside. Mick Evans and Ralph Catchpole had an outside pitch full of quality items!! They virtually sold out by the time they had packed up. It just goes to show that when you present nice, clean bottles they always sell (isn’t that right, Ralph!) This show goes from strength to strength and for any who had not attended, it is a worthwhile visit with more to see than just bottles, with plenty of other attractions in South Yorkshire.
My best buy: A superb Doulton whisky jug at £225 with one exactly the same fetching £450 in the auction on Sunday,
