Holywell-cum-Needingworth celebrated is largest ever village show on Saturday as the best of local produce and handicrafts were put on display.
The event saw 641 entries fill the village hall with an array of vegetables, flowers, baked goods, wine, photography and handicrafts for judges to deliberate over.
Grant Williamson, chairman of the Holywell-cum-Needingworth Gardening Club, said: “It was the biggest show in the history of the village and the club. We have a really good community spirit and we have a lot of people in and around the village growing, which is fantastic.
“While other shows are dying out ours just seems to be getting bigger and bigger, and this years our entries were are up 25 per cent more than last year.”
The judges for the event are experts in their fields and come from around the country to pick the best of the best.
“Not only was the quantity excellent but the quality was as well. We have got judges who come down here and say the entries are outstanding,” Mr Williamson added.
Mr Williamson puts the growth of the show down to a surge in the amount of gardening shows on television, along with community spirit and the gardening club’s enthusiastic committee.
He said: “We get a really good turn out and a lot of people in the village see it as a real village event.
“We had more entries this year than we have ever had which is a real heartening thing – people heard the message and entered.”
The RHS Banksian Medal for most points accrued was won by David Gedye and the prizes were presented by Charlie Stocker, who had been involved with the club for more than 40 years before retiring.
Results
Best Exhibits - Horticultural - Stephen Merritt; Vegetables - David Gedye; Fruit - Stephen Merritt; Flowers - Colin Green; Culinary and Craft - Chloe Hodgkin; Preserves - Jean Draper; Baking - Chloe Hodgkin; Home-made Wines - Sandra Buckenham; Flower Arranging (Adult) - Christine Coatsworth; Adult Handicrafts - Suzanne Cadge; Photography - Emma Taylor; Junior Classes - Megan Jackson. Cups and Trophies - RHS Banksian Medal - David Gedye; Chivers Challenge Cup - David Gedye; - Baily Challenge Cup - David Gedye; Duus Trophy – (Equal) David Gedye, Janet Mehew & Stephen Merritt; Barrett Cup - Jenny Williamson; Olive Masters Memorial Plate - Rosemary Blake; Homecraft Cup - Rosemary Blake; White Cup - Stephen Merritt; Sydney Prior Cup - David Gedye; Hannah Richards Cup - Colin Green; Dorothy Rose Cup - Maureen King; Bedford Cup - Pat Luckett; WI Challenge Cup - Tracy Ansell & Val Norman; Floral Art Trophy - Christine Coatsworth; Harrison Cup - Christine Coatsworth; Hawthorn Cup - Janet Gedye; Sonny Cooper Cup - Jenny Williamson; Jack Arnold Cup - Colin Green; Ann Mortlock Trophy - Lynn Green; Winemakers Challenge Cup - Roy Fountain; Benton Trophy - Stephen Merritt; Webster Trophy - Bob Everest; Richards Trophy - Jean Draper; Arthur Spencer Cup - Suzanne Cadge; Coutts-Lane Cup - Isabell Taylor; Pantiles Junior Trophy - Megan Jackson; Duus Cup - Rosie Brook; Floral Art Cup - Megan Jackson; Governors’ Shield - Mya Taylor.
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