BRIDPORT & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB SUMMER SHOW 3rd SEPTEMBER

VISITORS walking into the United Church Hall transformed by the Bridport and District Gardening Club were given a real treat.

Approximately 170 visitors from as far afield as Oxford, Winchester, Canterbury and High Wycombe came to admire the flowers, fruit, vegetables, art, handicraft, preserves, cookery and photography, commenting more than once that shows like this no longer exist in their area.

Ann Brown, show coordinator said: “The buzz of the show starts on Friday afternoon when a small army of helpers set up the hall, Friday evening and early Saturday morning with the staging of exhibits and judging, then Saturday afternoon the public opening and trophy presentations, until clearing away at the end of the day. Wonderful, we really enjoy it.

"A quick tally of all the people involved in making the show happen comes to more than 45. My thanks to all - it's a real community effort.

"Special thanks must go to the refreshment team led by Lyn Streeter. They are an essential part of the show, with delicious savouries and a huge array of wonderful cakes donated by members of the club, and such good value.

"With so much gloom and doom about the explosion of slugs, our Dahlia display was magnificent. Recently rose entries have been down so it was lovely to see and smell the scent of so many roses massed on the tables.

"We had more than 40 exhibitors and well over 360 individual exhibits entered. As always we had a lovely time, with lots of positive comments from visitors."

Stephen Tribe was the overall show winner with three cups to his name, one for fruits and two for vegetables, as well as winning the best humorous vegetable – a forked parsnip with a crochet skirt to cover her very life-like bottom half.

Pam Cant won the cup for best photograph with her atmospheric image of two stone “Bridges” which she took in Golspie in North East Scotland on a freezing cold day in May.

Pam said: “It was just a snap with a budget camera, so anyone can do it!”

Pam also won the cup for best entry in the homecraft classes with her boozy gluten free Irish Cream Coffee cake, and the highest aggregate score in art and handicraft.

Cups were presented by former Mayor Sandra Brown.

The plant stall, along with produce, books and garden equipment sales raised more than £155, which will be donated to ‘The Living Tree’, a local self-help cancer group.

Bridport & District Gardening Club shows are open to all, not just members. Visit the website bridportgardeningclub.co.uk or phone Ann Brown on 01308 424055 for a schedule or further details for the spring show on April 1, 2017.

GARDENING CLUB RESULTS

Stephen Tribe: Overall Show Winner won the Bob Mills Memorial Cup for the highest aggregate in all classes. The Fowler Cup for the highest aggregate score in fruit classes. The Bridport News Challenge Cup for the highest aggregate score in vegetable classes. The Colin Sparkes Cup for best entry in the vegetable classes.

Ken Hunt: Runner up in all classes won the E M Page Perpetual challenge cup for the second highest aggregate score.

Wendy Thorogood: The Redwood Bowl for best arrangement in floral art classes and the Stanley Dean Cup for highest aggregate score in floral art.

Dave Townsend: The Palmers Perpetual Challenge Cup for best entry in Dahlia Classes.

Pauline Busk: The Oliphant Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup for highest aggregate score in dahlia classes.

Pam Tribe: The Greenham Cup for the best pot plant.

Pam Cant: The Samways Cup for highest aggregate score in art and handicraft classes, the Walker Cup for best entry in Homecraft classes, and the Deakin Trophy for the best photograph.

Alan Finch: The Salon Culinaire Salver for highest aggregate score in Homecraft classes

Cathy Wilson: The P E Payne Memorial Trophy for highest aggregate score in photography.

Angela Harding: Northover Perpetual Trophy for best exhibit in Class 15 (roses).

Ann Brown: The C V Groves Bowl for highest aggregate score in other flower classes

Captions for the prize-winners photograph, L-R: Stephen Tribe, Wendy Thorogood, Pam Tribe, Alan Finch, Ann Brown, Pauline Busk, Cathy Wilson, Ken Hunt, Dave Townsend, Pam Cant.

All photos taken by Win Walker.