Show a feast of scent and colour

Sixty-one exhibitors produced 446 entries across 135 classes in horticulture, floral art, cookery, handicrafts, photography and junior sections. Exhibits were fewer than last year but the quality was high. The hot and dry conditions of recent weeks did not help the gardeners but they still produced the goods.

The main hall was full of scent and colour. David Stevens was the major winner, carrying off five trophies including the John Kingston Memorial Trophy for best horticultural exhibit for three leeks. Sheila Leaney again excelled in the flower and plant classes and won the Ladies Cup. Diplomas of special merit were awarded to David Stevens, Carl Sawyer and Bill Hammond, equal 1st prize winners in the ‘Housewives Choice’ class for mixed vegetables in a trug or basket. A testimony to the quality of the entries.

The floral art section was well supported and drew praise from the judge. The modern ‘Straight and Narrow’ class was particularly attractive and Brenda Twine was a worthy winner with an elegant arrangement featuring bulrushes. The ‘Men Only’ class ‘On the Farm’ had arrangements featuring cereal crops, farm implements and eggs. Cookery and handicraft were well represented with several new exhibitors. The range and quality of the craftwork was particularly high.

The photography section is always popular and the best entry was a portrait submitted by Ray Chick. The section winner was Daphne Drabble, her entries included a 1st prize for ‘4 Prints on a Theme’, a set of 4 prints of snowdrops.

The entries from children were all delightful with miniature gardens, collages, photographs, space-rockets etc all being lovingly crafted. The overall section winner was Isabelle Skinner, closely followed by Ceri Pennington. A diploma of merit was awarded to Ceri Pennington for Handicraft in hard medium, a splendid clay model of a dog.

Other features of the show included plant and cake sales, sideshow games, raffle, tombola and refreshments.

Show Secretary Beryl Barraclough thanked all the exhibitors, helpers and supporters for entering and staging another successful Show.

Everyone is encouraged to enter again next year and ensure the future of this long running village event.

Contributed by Billingshurst Horticultural Society

LIST OF CUP & TROPHY WINNERS – 2013

MAJ. GENL. J.M.L. RENTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Man with most points in the Show) WINNER: DAVID STEVENS

THE LADIES CUP (Lady with most points in the Show) WINNER: SHEILA LEANEY

THE JOHN KINGSTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Best Horticultural exhibit in Show) WINNER: DAVID STEVENS (three leeks)

THE WALLY WICKS MEMORIAL TROPHY (Member with most points in Sections A & B - Vegetables & Flowers) WINNER: DAVID STEVENS

THE OPEN CUP (Exhibitor with most points in Section C - Vegetables, Novelties, Fruit & Flowers) WINNER: DAVID STEVENS

THE BUSH MEMORIAL CUP (Exhibitor with most points in Classes 1, 3 to 18 & 32 to 52 - Vegetables) WINNER: DAVID STEVENS

THE ALAN DUGDALE MEMORIAL TROPHY (Exhibitor with most points in Classes 2, 19 to 31 & 56 to 73 - Flowers) WINNER: SHEILA LEANEY

THE F.R.H. SIMPSON MEMORIAL CUP FOR AMATEUR DAHLIAS (Exhibitor with most points in Classes 22 to 24 & 57 to 59) WINNER: SHEILA LEANEY

THE MISS PUTTOCK MEMORIAL CUP FOR FLORAL ART

(Exhibitor with most points in Section D - excluding Class 82) WINNER: BRENDA TWINE

THE HOWARD CUP FOR “FLORAL EXPRESSIONISM” (Class 82) WINNER: MADELEINE WOODS

THE CORONATION CUP FOR COOKERY (Exhibitor with most points in Section E) WINNER: MADELEINE WOODS

MAJ. GENL. J.M.L. RENTON AWARD FOR CRAFT (Exhibitor with most points in Section F) WINNER: JULIA RALPH

THE SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHIC CUP (Exhibitor with most points in Section H) WINNER: DAPHNE DRABBLE

THE EVE Mc HUGH AWARD (Best photographic entry in Show) WINNER: RAY CHICK

THE JUNIOR CUP (Age 16 years or under on the day of the show) (Junior exhibitor with most points in Show) WINNER: ISABELLE PENNINGTON (11 yrs)

THE W.I. GOODEY CUP FOR COOKERY (Exhibitor with most points in Section E) – see Rule 4d WINNER: JOAN BOBKER

THE W.I. WILSON CUP FOR CRAFTS (Exhibitor with most points in Section F) – see Rule 4d WINNER: SHEILA PARTINGTON

THE BILLINGSHURST W.I. CUP FOR PHOTOGRAPHY (Exhibitor with most points in Section H) – see Rule 4d WINNER: AUDREY WILKES

THE W.I. BECK CUP (Exhibitor with most points in Show) – see Rule 4d WINNER: JOAN BOBKER

BANKSIAN MEDAL (Most prize-money in Horticultural Classes) WINNER: W. T. HAMMOND