The European Bonsai Association New Talent Competition is a styling competition in which entrants are given a piece of raw material and are given a set amount of time in which to style it to the best of their ability. 
The competition starts at area level within the individual countries and the winners at that level go on to a national competition.
The winners of each national final go on the European final which is held in a different country each year.
 The 1999 European final was held at the European Bonsai Association Congress at Stratford upon Avon with budding artists  from the UK, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Denmark.
I am afraid  I have only one picture from Stratford because I was too busy stewarding and then torturing a tree myself to take any. 

Barry Carpenter doing battle with a very prickly San Jose Juniper at Stratford.

1999 European final results

First place: Rene de Bone, Switzerland

Second place: Kirsten van Croonenborgh, Holland

Third place: Jorge Campo, Spain

Well done to all!!

EBA  2000 will take place in the town of Arco in Italy, and the qualifying rounds have already started.

To see my modest attempts in the New Talent Competition,
Click here.