Rustington’s green-fingered gurus praised

The results of both the annual gardens and allotment competitions have been announced with more than a dozen winners being praised for their hard work in brightening up the village.

Here are the winning results for the gardens competition, judged by Arun District Council chairman Dougal Maconachie, Celia Buckley and Patrick Sims, of the East Preston and Kingston Horticultural Society and Jo Crockford, of Ferring Nurseries:-

Best window box, balcony and patio tubs (residential) – 6 Tennyson Avenue; runner-up 9 Goodwood Close.

Best window box, balcony and patio tubs (commercial) – The Lamb pub, The Street; runner-up The Windmill Inn, Mill Lane. Best front garden (residential) – 25 Dingley Road; runner-up 13 Amberley Road.

Best front garden (commercial) – Princess Marina House, in Seafield Road; runner-up Rustington House (Hargreaves), Worthing Road.

Best school – Georgian Gardens Primary School, in Guildford Road; runner-up Summerlea Community Primary School, Windsor Drive.

Best community garden – Rustington Methodist Church garden; runner-Up Herne Gardens/Orchard Gardens garage compound.

There was equally strong competition in the allotments competition.

This year’s overall winners of the competition were James and Christine Donovan, plot number 27 of Conbar Avenue allotment. They were presented with the Una Maywood Cup.

The couple also clinched the site winner award for the best plot in Conbar Avenue.

Martin Kempson’s plot in Penfold Lane earned him the Eddie Leonard Cup for the best on site in that allotment, while Gary Frostick took the Eric Ilett Cup for the best allotment patch in Worthing Road.

Julie Churcher won the Cliff Pryor Cup in recognition of her outstanding commitment, effort to her plot in Worthing Road.

This year also saw a new, special award being introduced in recognition of the best newcomer.

The first winner of the accolade is Tony Jones, for his Conbar Avenue plot.

He will be presented with the Owen Electrical Best Newcomer Trophy.