PICTURES: Yapton autumn flower show

The 39 exhibitors, which included one newcomer, were mostly from the Pagham to Rustington area but there were three out-county participants who had a significant presence at the show.

Show secretary David Donovan said “At 254 entries, albeit down on the last several years, there was no disgrace in the quality of produce to be seen on the bench.

“The principal cut flowers were dahlias, showing a splendid range of form and colour and quality, plus some chrysanthemums and fuchsias, the latter as both cut stems and boxes of florets.

“There were several entries of vases of mixed shrubs, a few pot plants, but the season of ‘mellow fruitfulness’ was amply portrayed in the numbers of dishes of tomatoes displayed, a generally well-supported vegetables section, with three pumpkins in the novelty classes. The array of fruits varied from apples and pears to raspberries and figs.

“The number of photographic images was considerable and stimulated much interest and discussion among the afternoon visitors.

“The flower arrangements demonstrated their usual high level of ingenuity of design, the cookery and preserves section was generally well supported in the majority of classes and the schedule was completed with a small number of handicrafts, and a few children’s entries.

“Despite an unsuccessful plea of `rain, rain, stay away’, about 100 visitors entered the Village Hall during the afternoon to look at the display. The side attractions included the tombola, quite unavoidable, being sited at the entrance to the hall, garden plants, cakes and preserves, the raffle, a jewellery stall and light refreshments.”

Before the awards ceremony, a box of postage stamps, which members had collected to support Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, was presented to a representative from the charity, who attended with one of the dogs.

Chairman Roy Phillips then presented trophies to the show’s winners. The Edith Godfrey Trophy for most points in the show was jointly won by Alan Humphrey and Malcolm Paradine, who had gained an equal number for their successes on the day. Malcolm also received the Village Criers Trophy for the highest aggregate total in the horticultural classes at the year’s four shows.

Barry Bezants won the Deegan Shield, for the best vegetable exhibit with an excellent dish of tomatoes, and the Joan Waddington Memorial Trophy, for most points in fuchsia classes over two shows.

Kent Kressner retained the Peter Crouch Memorial Trophy for his chrysanthemum exhibits.

Mr Donovan kept the Fruit Challenge Bowl for prizes at three shows and won the Neil Baxter Memorial Trophy for cookery and handicrafts.

Barry Moore had the best vase of dahlias for the National Dahlia Society Silver Medal and Mr Humphrey provided the runner-up exhibit for the Bronze Medal.

Following a consistently excellent season staging photographic images, Alan Thew won the Annual Photographic Vase for the first time.

Joan Jackson retained the W.R. Trophy for flower arranging at the year’s four shows.

Seven-year-old Cerys Hier kept the Junior Village Criers Trophy for her prizes in the children’s classes at this year’s shows but had to share the Junior Autumn Cup with Ned Slowly, five, and Ted Coomber, three, as each won a first prize.

The next season of competition in Yapton begins on March 18, 2017, with the spring flower show at Yapton Village Hall.

First prize winners were: Barry Bezants, Irene Jordan, Eddy Brown, Kent Kressner, Debbie Lawrence, Eva Pendreich, Jan Day, Eric Norrell, Alan Humphrey, Barry Moore, Malcolm Paradine, Mark Wilson, John Donovan, Roy Phillips, Elaine Cordingley, Andy Mitchell, David Donovan, Vicky Millis, Barbara Coomber, Katrina Leighton-Hearn, Heather Booth, Joan Jackson, Mike Millis, Alan Thew, Patricia Dawson, Ted Coomber, Ned Slowly and Cerys Hier.

The full results can be viewed at www.yaptongardeners.co.uk

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