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Ruishton Village Day Flower Show 16th July 2011
Flower Power is alive and kicking in blooming Ruishton.
The rain that threatened to disrupt the 29th annual Ruishton Village Day and Flower Show faded away in the face of the flower power resulting in record entries and crowds.
“Flower Power” was the theme of this year’s show with members of the show committee dressed in hippie gear from the “Summer of Love” adding Technicolor to an already blooming colourful event.
“Fanny Flower Power” the winning scarecrow, created by Rita McClure in the previous week’s Flower Power themed competition, came down to the Village Hall to join in the fun and to keep an eye on the crops from the “Potato in a Bucket” class where Mr. E. Harwood, came out top of 23 entrants and produced a crop of just under two kilograms from the one potato planted in a bucket.
The entries in the Fruit and Vegetable Sections increased over the previous year and continued to maintain their high quality.Mrs Sandra Rodgers secured the Ruishton Challenge Cup for the highest number of points in the Vegetable and Flower sections and also the Ruishton Vegetable Plate for amassing the most points in the vegetable section. Mrs Hazel Greenslade was awarded the Marshall Cup as runner up in the Vegetable and Flower sections as well as the cup for the Hanging Basket.
There were a high number of quality entries in the Cookery section with an impressive display of cakes, jams and savoury pastries. Mavis Skeggs displayed her culinary skills by taking the R & J Cave Cup as the overall points winner with the Walker Cup going to Hazel Greenslade as section runner up. As far as the entrants in the Victoria Sandwich for men were concerned the day was dedicated to “Flour Power”, the friendly rivalry in the weeks leading up to the show resulted in a record number of entries with Craig Jones coming out top. While Janet Fowler secured the cup for the Victoria Sandwich for ladies.
Wine and Drinks was another section that drew some very keen competition. The hedgerows of last autumn must have been heavily harvested judging by the increasing number of entries of Fruit Liqueurs and Sloe Gins. The Breeze Cup was won by Paul Baker as the overall points winner of the section.
“The Royal Wedding” was the theme of this year’s Floral Art that included cupcakes made of flowers and buttonholes for the Royal bridegroom. Hilda Marsden took the Maudie Hayward Trophy as the points winner in the section and the Herbert Blaney Cup for the miniature floral arrangement in the colours of the Crown Jewels.
The handicraft exhibits were of high quality with a diverse range of entries with Sylvia Twine the overall points winner. Rosemary Elliott was awarded the Ann Bailey Cup for embroidery and the cup for the hand knitted article, while the M & D Duke cup was awarded to first time winner Jane Powers.
The Children’s sections saw many inventive and imaginative, paintings, posters, decorated eggs, monsters, bookmarks and original poems. Amy Lewis displayed a range of talents in winning the David Berry Cup for her bookmark and the cup for the original poem. Hannah Madeley won the Henlade Cup for decorated cup cakes and James Whitworth the Growtage Challenge Cup of the “Lego Garden”.
The cups were presented by Paul Dunn on behalf of the Schedule sponsors, Spirit Health Club and John Edney, the Chairman of Somerset County Council. John Edney praised the evident vitality of the community shown by the support it gave to this annual village event
Mike Marshall Chairman Ruishton Flower Show Committee