Ruishton Village Day Flower Show 18th July 2015
A record number of entries marked the 33rd annual Ruishton Flower Show, and the increase in quantity was matched by the increase in quality making the judging hard but enjoyable!
The traditional Hanging Basket competition was judged on the Sunday before the Show and the cup for the winning basket was awarded to Darren Greenslade. The Scarecrow competition, themed “Scarecrow Wedding”, normally judged on the same day as the Hanging Baskets, underwent a radical change this year and became a week long Scarecrow Trail around Ruishton and Thornfalcon with villagers able to vote for their favourite. The villagers’ choice was the Madeley family’s entry titled “Wedded Bliss” which was brought down to Saturday’s Flower Show to take up the traditional scarecrow position in front of the village hall to keep a watch over the numerous buckets containing the Potato Crop class, which was won by Paul Baker whose one potato producing a crop weighing over 1.5kgs.
The increase in entries in the Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Sections meant that the organisers had to make more space available to display the produce to its full potential. Mrs Sandra Rodgers secured the Ruishton Challenge Cup for the highest number of points in the Vegetable, Fruit 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. Sue Sherry retained the Claydon Challenge Trophy for Rhubarb in one of the Show’s most keenly contested class. Jim Claydon was a first time winner of the Mary Rolland Millennium Cup for Pot Flowering Plant.
The entries in the Children’s Section were again exceptional and the Committee decided to acknowledge the efforts that went into the Handwriting classes by awarding extra cups, the cups were won by Ember Rollings 4 – 7 years and Katie Murphy 8 – 11 years. Rosie Kiddell won the Henlade Cup for Decorated Cup Cakes in a class that grows year on year. Other Cup winners in the Children’s section were Lola Reed who took the David Berry Cup for her Bookmark; Nathan Whitman retained the Growtage Challenge Cup for the Lego class and Louis Allen won the cup for the Lego class for 4 to 11 year olds.
There were many new classes in this year’s handicrafts section including needle felt, tie-dye tee shirts and crochet flowers which attracted new entrants. The Arthur Jelks Tray for the highest number of points in the Handicraft was awarded to Lydia Bry. The Photography judge commented that the photos this year were the best that he had ever seen at Ruishton Flower Show in all his time of judging the classes. The Photography Cup was awarded to Hazel Greenslade for her “Down on the Farm” photo.
The quality and quantity of the entries from the village’s cooks gave the judge an extremely difficult task in deciding the winners. Hazel Greenslade displayed her culinary talents by taking the R & J Cave Cup as the overall points winner as well as cups for Swiss Roll and Scones. While the Walker Cup for section runner up, due to a tie in points, was for the first time awarded to joint winners – Lydia Bry and Mavis Skeggs. Sylvia Kearle displayed her cake making prowess by taking the cup for the Ruishton Apple and Cider Cake as well as the Victoria Sandwich cup. The men were also well represented in this section and Mr A Parsons was awarded the cup for the men’s class Victoria Sandwich
The continuing increase in Wine and Drinks section entries of home-made Fruit Liqueurs resulted in an extra judge being needed! This year’s Liqueurs included Apricot, Raspberry, Blackberry, Strawberry and Damson which made judging a difficult but enjoyable task. Paul Baker retained the Mr and Mrs Breeze Cup as the overall points winner of the Drinks section. While Sandra Rodgers’ Rose wine secured her the Wine of the Show Cup.
Lydia Bry took the Maudie Hayward Trophy as overall points winner in the Floral Art section which this year had as its theme “Art and Artists”. The Herbert Blaney Cup for the miniature floral arrangement was awarded to Samantha Dash.
The cups were presented by Richard Rabjohn and Richard Shaw on behalf of the Schedule sponsors, Kijlstra Precast. Flower Show Chairman, Mike Marshall, said that this year’s show attracted a record number of entries of the highest quality.
Mike Marshall Chairman Ruishton Flower Show Committee