Autumn Show 2024
Report below
It has been a somewhat mixed year for gardeners. A mild but wet spring did not make for an easy start and the summer proved variable with cooler temperatures overall; some weeks were, others cooler and wetter. Some found that fruit and vegetables were maturing earlier because of climate change. Finally, torrential rain on the Thursday before the Show was a problem for those hoping to exhibit flowers. Despite the weather, exhibitors provided a splendid display of garden produce and flowers, supported by excellent entries in the other classes. Congratulations to all the prize and trophy winners.
Alan Woodward swept up most of the Cups for the vegetable and fruit classes with a fine display over a wide range of entries. Sue Heavens picked up the trophy for the best tomato entry with a winning exhibit of five standard sized tomatoes.
The flower entries once again provided a wonderful display of late summer colour. These included tall colourful spikes of gladiolus, and a great range of dahlias of different sizes, shapes and colours. Grasses and mixed flowers made an elegant show helping to fill the Village Hall with a blaze of colour. Alan Woodward was the overall winner here also to add to his vegetable triumphs.
The domestic classes included some excellent elderflower and lemon drizzle cakes, date and walnut loaf cakes, oat cookies and cheese and herb scones. Overall winner in the domestic classes was Jenny Joynson.
The photography classes included some imaginative responses to subjects covering Gardening Tools, Gates & Arches, Garden Path & Borders and a Touch of Red. Best in Show was a highly commended composition on Garden Tools by Chris Scruby.
There was a good attendance in the afternoon to view the displays, the class prize winners and for the presentation of cups and trophies.
Our thanks to all those who entered and made an early start on Saturday morning to display their exhibits before the judging at 10.30am. We are most grateful to our external judges who take great care and consideration in their judging. The individual comments they make on the domestic, junior and photography classes are greatly appreciated. Sadly David Woodage, our judge for the vegetable, fruit and flowers classes, is retiring from judging. He has been a wonderfully supportive and informative judge over many years, and we will miss his expertise and dry sense of humour.
We try to make the Show a friendly and attractive event for anyone who would like to take part. The classes cover a wide range of exhibits. You do not need to be an expert, nor grow vegetables, fruit or flowers specifically for show purposes. There are excellent chances of winning a 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize in each class even if you are entering for the first time. We would like to see more of what you grow normally in your garden, and for those who are not gardeners the cooking and photography classes provide another opportunity to participate. In particular, we would like to encourage more children to enter the Junior classes.
We are grateful to everybody who helped make this another enjoyable and successful afternoon, including exhibitors, judges, helpers and all those who came to the Show.
AUTUMN SHOW PRINCIPAL WINNERS
The Tony Wickson Memorial Cup for the best Spring Sown onion – Alan Woodward
The Jack Wickson Memorial Cup for the best entry in Class 1 (mixed vegetables) – Alan Woodward
The Street Trophy for the best entry in Classes 2 and 3 (tomatoes) – Sue Heavens
The Drury Memorial Shield for the most points in the root vegetable classes – Alan Woodward
The Harry Charlton Cup for the most points in Classes 1 – 34 (vegetables and fruit) – Alan Woodward
The Parker Rose Bowl for the best exhibit in class 43 (single rose) – Sally Strang
The A L Webb Memorial Tray for the most points in Classes 35 to 49 (flowers) – Alan Woodward
The Rose Bowl for the most points in the domestic classes – Jenny Joynson
The Hawtin Trophy for the most points in the junior classes, age under 7 – Douglas Rogers and Tobias Shamel
The Parker Trophy for the most points in the photographic classes – Chris Scruby
The Parker Trophy for the best photograph – Chris Scruby