2010 SUMMER SHOW REPORT

Horsham Horticultural  Society’s 2010 Summer Show held last Saturday at the North Heath Hall, North Heath Lane carried on the tradition with a wealth of colour from specimen displays.  Rose and flower entries were higher than 2009 and had promised to be higher still until the heavy rain compromised some of the entries in the days immediately preceding the show. Inevitably, the Fruit and Vegetable Classes suffered as a result of the dry summer with a significant drop in entries. 

 Of particular note was the performance of Society member Neville Rogers, who has been entering Shows since 2008 with increasing levels of success.  This year he achieved the outstanding total score of 40 points, for which he was awarded the Padwick Floral Bowl.  In addition to his display of five asters, which won the Nora Poole Cup for cut flowers, he was awarded the Founders’ Salver for the highest number of points in the Vegetable Class.  He also won the President’s Salver for the highest points in Fruit and Vegetable classes and the coveted RHS Banksian Medal for gaining the highest number of points in all of the horticultural sections.

 Best entries in the Rose and Flower Classes included Diana Hartley whose single specimen rose was judged to be best in the rose classes, winning the Rose Bowl and Gill Mansell who won the Shelley Cup with her splendid solanum.

 The Floral Cup, which is awarded for the highest number of points in both the Spring and Summer Floral Art Classes was won by Heather Morten.  Heather was first on both occasions.

 The Fruit and Vegetable Classes’ total entry was lower, but only two classes out of a total of twenty-five had no entries at all.  Outstanding was Lynda Cheeseman’s plate of raspberries, which won the Ron Mitchell Cup for the Best Exhibit in the Show.

 This year the Domestic Section entries increased by nearly 50%, with 57 entries ranging from Cornish Pasties to lemon curd.  Sue Hammond entered all 7 classes, and her efforts resulted in the Layton Cup.  The Handicrafts Trophy for the Best Exhibit was won by Jack Hills for his evocative seaside village painting.

 Every year, the Betty Santer Cup is presented to the winner of a competition devised by Derek Santer. This year members were given small fuchsia plants at the Spring Show.  Out of 40 plants given out, 23 were returned and the winner was Molly Cavell, with a magnificent fuchsia in full bloom.

 The Photographic Section again produced some very scenic and striking images on a range of subjects.  The Reg Smith Cup was won by Diana Hartley with her “Seasons” collection, and “All creatures great and small”.

 The Awards were presented by Show Secretary, Geoffrey Kirk, who joined the Chairman in thanking all the exhibitors for all their hard work and imagination during the year.  He also thanked all the Society members who had contributed towards making another successful Summer Show.

 During the winter, from Tuesday 5 October, the Society will hold fortnightly meetings starting at 7.30 pm at the Brighton Road Baptist Church, Brighton Road, Horsham RH13 5BD. Details are on the Society’s website www.horshamhorticulturalsociety.co.uk or telephone Horsham 242511.   New members will be very welcome at these meetings.

 The Society’s Spring Show in 2011 will be held on Sunday 3 April at North Heath Hall, St Mark’s Lane, Horsham RH12 5PU

The following is a list of the cup winners: