For what it is worth, the stance of the petals is not likely to be the deciding factor in awarding a St. Swithin. With an excess of over 200 flower quality awards in the AOS system to Saint Swithin, there is a ton of info to go on. Here is what I look at as a judge.
On my laptop, I pull up all of the awards to St. Swithin concentrating on perhaps 6 to 10 of the most recent awards shown.
Then with those in front of me, I look at the overall color first. Is it darker, lighter, then those? How does the flower count compare? How are they arranged? Strong inflorescence or weak? Markings clear and well defined?
Then I look at the overall natural spread. How does that compare? Then I look at the measurements, three in particular. The dorsal sepal both height and width. Petal width and length. How do the petals compare? Markings, spots, veins clear and concise. Then lastly I look at the pouch color and size both horizontal and vertical.
That helps me to evaluate the plant in front of me. I include the staminode.
How does it compare to those recent awards that I called up just before? That allows me to pass on it or nominate it and score it.
Now having said that I leave it to you to decide what you would like to do.
I, as a judge, refrain from offering my opinion one way or the other.
All I am willing to say is based strictly on color, and color alone, I would just love to have that plant in my collection.
