MUCH better weather than last year, when the country was grappling with 'the Beast from the East', helped to encourage 20 per cent more exhibitors to Grassington and District Horticultural Society's 2019 Spring Show.

There were more than 350 entries, and changes to the judging process meant a greater spread of competitors could win awards across the various categories.

Top honours went to Glenda Priestnall, who was awarded the Cunningham Trophy for the most points in the show and the Bloomfield Cup for the highest points total in the ‘Flower’ classes.

There was another double trophy winner in Joan Whitaker, who achieved obtained the most points in the flower arranging section as well as the trophy for the best exhibit in that section.

And the Margaret Lockyer award, for the best orchid in show, was won for the third year in succession by Hilary Hobson.

Other trophy winners were Cynthia Colley for her best exhibit of a trio of trumpet daffodils; Karen Darwin, for the hotly competitive ‘kitchen’ of baking; Mike Cunningham for a superb container of bulbs in flower. Philip Johnson obtained the trophy for the most points in the preserves section.

Organisers thanked the judges -

Nigel Hutchinson (flowers); Eileen Proud (flower arranging); and Christine Clarkson (baking and produce)

The next event in the horticultural calendar is the coffee morning and, once a year only plant sale in Church House on Saturday, May 25.

Results

SECTION 1 - FLOWERS

Class 1 1 Trumpet Daffodil - 1. C Colley 2. G Priestnall 3. H Williams

Class 2 1 Narcissus – 1. P Easterby 2. G Priestnall 3. C Colley

Class 3 1 Multi/Double Daffodil – 1. G Priestnall 2. H Hobson 3. J Goodings

Class 4 3 Trumpet Daffodils – 1. C Colley 2. H Williams 3 G Priestnall

Class 5 3 Narcissi – 1. P Easterby 2. H Hobson 3. G Priestnall

Class 6 3 Multi/Double Daffodils – 1. H Hobson 2. M. Russell 3. J Goodings

Class 7 1 Miniature Narcissus or Daffodil – 1. H Hobson 2. G Priestnall 3. C Colley

Class 8 1 Tulip - 1. M Cunningham 2. G Priestnall 3. H Hobson

Class 9 3 Tulips – 1. G Priestnall 2. M Cunningham, 3. H Williams

Class 10 1 Hyacinth – 1. G Priestnall 2. H Hobson 3. K Hardaker

Class 11 6 Violas – 1. M Cunningham 2. C Colley 3. K Darwin,

Class 12 6 Pansies – 1. G Priestnall 2. M Cunningham

Class 13 1 Sprig of Spring Flowering Shrub – 1. J Taylor 2. G Priestnall 3. P. Merrell

Class 14 6 Spring Flowers – 1. P Merrell 2. H. Toyn 3. H Hobson

Class 15 A Pot Plant in Flower – 1. P Easterby 2. H Hobson 3. J Clarkson

Class 16 An Orchid – 1. H Hobson, 2.G. Priestnall 3. K Darwin

Class 17 A Cactus or Succulent - 1. H Hobson 2. V Tywang 3. M Stott

Class 18 A pot of Primulas – 1. K Hardaker 2. B Hanson

Class 19 A pot of Auriculas – 1. K Hardaker 2. M Stott 3. G Priestnall

Class 20 A container of Alpines – 1. K Darwin 2 G Priestnall 3. P Easterby

Class 21 A container of Bulbs in flower – 1. M Cunningham 2. K Darwin 3. G Priestnall

SECTION 2 – FLOWER ARRANGING

Class 22 Easter Bonnet – 1. J Whittaker 2. L Gamble 3. G Priestnall

Class 23 A Spring foliage arrangement – 1. S Morris 2. C Marlow-Mann 3. G Priestnall

Class 24 “My Garden Flowers” – 1. G Priestnall 2. C Smith, 3. P. Wright

Class 25 An arrangement in a basket – 1. A Schindler 2. J Whittaker 3. K Darwin

Class 26 A three-bloom arrangement – 1. S Morris 2. L Gamble 3. A Schindler

Class 27 An arrangement in a four-inch cube - 1. V Tywang 2. F Maude 3.J Eden

SECTION 3 –BAKING

Class 28 1 Egg Custard - 1. K Darwin 2. V Tywang

Class 29 2 Cheese and Onion Pasties - 1. K. Darwin 2. J Ringrose 3. C Smith

Class 30 4 Date and Walnut scones - 1. C Smith 2. K Darwin 3. J Booth

Class 31 6 Ginger Biscuits - 1. K Darwin 2. J Clarkson 3. R Leder

Class 32 4 Hot Cross buns- 1. J Eden 2. J Booth 3. V Tywang

Class 33 1 Simnel cake - 1. C Smith 2. V Tywang 3. K Darwin

SECTION 4 – CHILDREN'S CLASSES

Class 34 A decorated egg – 1. Lexi Hall 2. Matilda Wilson 3. Ted Smith

Class 35 The tallest Daffodil - 1. Ella Binns 2. Aaron Tywang, 3. Hannah Tywang

Class 36 4 Chocolate Easter nests -1. Ted Smith 2. Ella Binns 3. Aaron Tywang

SECTION 5 – PRESERVES

Class 37 Orange marmalade - 1. P Merrell 2. J Whittaker 3. S Wheal

Class 38 Other marmalade – No Certificates awarded

Class 39 Jelly or seedless jam - 1. G Priestnall 2. K Darwin 3. P Johnson

Class 40 Strawberry Jam – 1. P. Johnson, 2. K Hardaker 3. S Wheal

Class 41 Jam other than Strawberry - 1. G. Priestnall 2. P Johnson 3. K Darwin

Class 42 Lemon Curd – 1. C Taylor 2. P Johnson 3. S Wheal

Class 43 4 Hen or Bantam Eggs – 1. C Colley

Class 44 Fruit Flavoured Liquor – 1. K Darwin 2. S Wheal 3. P Merrell

Class 45 Fruit Cordial – 1. P Johnson, 2. S Wheal

TROPHIES

Bloomfield Cup (Most points in Classes 1 - 21) - Glenda Priestnall

Society Rosebowl (Most points in Classes 22 - 27) – Joan Whitaker

Society Tankard - (Best Exhibit Classes 1 - 14) – Cynthia Colley

Twin Locks Trophy - (Best Exhibit Classes 15 - 21) – Mike Cunningham

Society Vase - (Best Exhibit in Classes 22 - 27) – Joan Whitaker

Society Cup - (Most Points in Classes 28 - 33) - Karen Darwin

Joan Bielby Salver - (Most points in Classes 37 - 45) - Philip Johnson

Lockyer Award - (Best Orchid) (Class 16) - Hilary Hobson

Cunningham Trophy - (Most Points in Show) - Glenda Priestnall

2019 weather was certainly an improvement over the Beast from the East of last spring, resulting in exhibitors galore and well over 350 entries in total, nearly 20% more than last year, a cracking start for the Grassington and District Horticultural Society.

This show also saw a major change to the way prize certificates could be won. Prior to this show an exhibitor could win up to three certificates in a class (1st, 2nd and 3rd) however, following advice from judges at previous shows, a person can only be awarded one per class thus, not only enabling more people to win awards but also to improve the competitiveness of the Society.

Top honours went to Glenda Priestnall by being awarded not only the Cunningham Trophy for the most points in the show but also the Bloomfield Cup for the highest points total in the ‘Flower’ Classes.

There was another double trophy winner with Joan Whitaker achieving her successes in obtaining the most points in the flower arranging section as well as the trophy for the best exhibit in that section.

The Margaret Lockyer award, for the best orchid in show, was won for the third year in succession by Hilary Hobson

Other trophy winners were Cynthia Colley for her best exhibit of a trio of trumpet daffodils, Karen Darwin, for the hotly competitive ‘kitchen’ of baking, Mike Cunningham for a superb container of bulbs in flower and, Philip Johnson obtained the trophy for the most points in the preserves section.

The next event in the horticultural calendar is the coffee morning and, once a year only, plant sale in Church House on Saturday 25th May 2019.

More details of this and future events can be found on the society’s web pages of the Grassington Hub’s website.

The society would like to extend its warmest thanks to the judges:

• Mr. Nigel Hutchinson (flowers),

• Mrs. Eileen Proud (flower arranging)

• Mrs. Christine Clarkson (baking & produce)

As well as all who supported the event to make it such a success.