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Summer Flower Show Report
NEW MEMBER COLLECTS THE PRIZES AT HORSHAM SHOWClick on PHOTOGRAPHS for the Summer Show photos Despite the wet weather in the days preceding their Summer Flower Show, the members of Horsham & District Horticultural Society put on a colourful display of flowers and some outstanding exhibits of vegetables and photographs at their show at North Heath Hall on Saturday (16 August).
Competition was keenest in the vegetable classes and top winner was Mrs Sue Hammond (43) who, prior to joining the Society in 2007, had never exhibited at any horticultural show before. She beat David Frost by the very narrowest of margins to take the Royal Horticultural Society’s premier award of the Banksian Medal by gaining the highest number of points and first prizes in all the horticultural sections of the show with her exhibits of vegetables grown on her allotment at the Birds Farm Allotment site.
Best exhibit in the show did, however, go to Gerry Ashby for his collection of vegetables, described by judge Barry Newman as of outstanding quality.
The Society’s annual photographic competition, organised by Hazel Bockh, attracted some excellent photos in the four classes decided upon for this year’s show. Local judge, Graham Horley, said there were some excellent and imaginative photos amongst those exhibited.
Show Secretary, Geoffrey Kirk, reported that some 260 entries had been received from 35 members of the Society. Bearing in mind that the show is at present only open to members, that was a very creditable performance. The number of entries was a little down on last year, due principally, he felt, to the wet weather in the days before the show affecting the flowers and also to the change of location due to the refurbishment of their usual hall. Nevertheless, it appeared that the show attracted visitors from the North Heath area of the town which was encouraging.
Presenting the awards, Society President Alan Harris, who farms locally, said that gardeners, like farmers, were never satisfied with the weather conditions. He congratulated all exhibitors on their efforts and thanked everyone concerned with organising such an excellent event in the new location.
The Society also hosted, for the first time, an inter-Society competition with Slinfold and Southwater Horticultural Societies. Each Society had to exhibit in three out of the five classes comprising displays of flowers, vegetables, fruit, a cake or a pot plant. Horsham won by a clear margin of four points over nearest rival Southwater.
Chairman Derek Santer devised a competition for the best coleus plant grown from seedlings given out by him to members at the Spring Show. Of the 19 plants brought in, that grown by Mrs Valerie Goodwin was adjudged the best by judges Jean Griffin and Barry Newman Click here for the list of Prizewinners
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