Ruishton Village Day Flower Show 21st July 2018
Any fears that this year’s hot dry summer would adversely impact on the 36th annual Ruishton Flower Show were dispelled by the entries displayed on the day.
The traditional week long annual Scarecrow Trail led up to the Ruishton Flower Show and this year’s theme of “Cartoon characters” saw a colourful array of favourite characters from across the ages. The winners were selected by public vote with the Scarecrow Trophy being awarded to Liam Holley for his “Spiderman”, second place went to Lydia Carvers “Betty Boop” followed by the Dash Family’s “Popeye” in third. All three were brought to the Show to keep guard over the Show’s popular Potato in a Bucket Class where the judges, after emptying 25 buckets and weighing each crop, won by Lyn Atyeo, then had a new Special Class, “Longest Carrot grown in a Welly”, to test their judging skills, which was won by Felicity Holley.
Hazel Greenslade had a successful Show being awarded the Ruishton Challenge Cup for the securing the highest number of points in the Vegetable, Fruit and Flowers sections plus the Ruishton Vegetable Plate and the Tony Shattock Village Day Flower Cup . Lyn Atyeo also had a successful show being a first time winner of the Marshall Cup as runner up in these sections as well as winning the Dr & Mrs Carton Rose Bowl for Specimen Rose and the Mary Rolland Millennium Cup for Pot Flowering Plant.
The cookery section was well supported demonstrating impressive culinary skills. The R & J Cave Cup for the overall winner of the section which was awarded to Hazel Greenslade and first time entrant Susan Webster as runner up received the Walker Cup and also the Cup for Scones. Cups in this section were also presented to Samantha Dash for Double Chocolate Loaf Cake, Hazel Greenslade for Victoria Sandwich (Ladies) and Matthew Capstick for Victoria Sandwich (Men).
There were many imaginative and diverse entries in the Handicrafts Section where Lydia Carver retained the Arthur Jelks Tray as having the highest number of points. The other cups in handicrafts all went to first time winners, the Photography Cup to E. Paul Crompton for his photo that displayed happiness in the “Emotions” class, the M & E Duke Woodwork cup to Andy Carver and the cup for hand knitted article to Joan Roberton.
With a theme of “The World Cup” Floral Art provided yet another closely contested Section which saw Natalie Hopkins becoming a first time winner of the Maudie Hayward Trophy for amassing the highest points in the section. The Herbert Blaney Cup for the miniature floral arrangement was awarded to Lydia Carver.
The quality of the entries made the judging of the Drinks section challenging but enjoyable; Peter Light was a first time winner of the Mr & Mrs Breeze Cup as overall winner, Wine of the Show Cup went to Paul Baker for a Rose wine that the judge said he wished he could take home for himself.
As in previous years entries in the Children’s Section showed wonderful degrees of imagination and skills with the Henlade Cup for the Decorated Pizza being retained by Amelia Smallacombe. There was double success for the Corrigan family with cups awarded to Jasmine for Bookmark and Arthur for Lego (4 – 11 years). Other cup winners in the Children’s section were Millie Lang for decorated wooden spoon (David Berry Cup) and Jessica Dash for Lego (J & M Growtage Trophy).
Flower Show Chairman Mike Marshall congratulated all the entrants whose enthusiasm overcame the heat of the summer to produce an array of exhibits that made the Show a such a success.
Mike Marshall Chairman Ruishton Flower Show