GALLERY: Brilliant blooms and super veg earn prizes at Yapton annual show

He was the most successful entrant in the open horticultural classes in this year's Yapton Cottage Gardeners' annual show.

His triumphs in the vegetable and flower classes enabled him to take away the Booth Cup. Running him close in the winners' league was Malcolm Paradine.

He took the VH Snell Trophy for his collection of vegetables, the George Harrison Cup for most points in the members' classes and the Banksian Medal for the most prize money in all horticultural sections.

The other awards were well distributed. Jeff Haine had the best vegetable exhibit, tomatoes, for the Warmere Cup in the members' classes, while Christine Fry was presented with the Charles Millyard Trophy for runner beans and the Bronze Medal for dahlias.

Tony Bishop entered the best pot plant for the Tony Butcher Trophy.

He was also the only, but outstanding, exhibitor in the wine and beer classes for which he received the Phillips Trophy.

The Stevenson Cup went to Alan Humphrey's dahlias for the best cut flower exhibit in the members' classes.

The equivalent award, the Woodard Trophy, in the open section went to Mick Marshall, again with dahlias.

The same vase brought him the silver medal of the National Dahlia Society. Some excellent shallots gave him the best exhibit in the open classes for the Binns Trophy.

The remaining awards in the horticultural classes went to David Donovan for most points in the fruit classes, the Ivor Smith Fruit Bowl, and Eva Pendreich who took the Mapletrees Trophy for novices.

Some of her other talents brought her the Collier Cup for her prowess in cooking. In a hotly-contested flower arranging section, Joan Jackson beat the opposition for the Pannell Trophy.

Shirley July produced the best item of handicraft, an open painting while still in her first season of competition to win the Stagg Cup.

The children's section had 12-year-old Olivia Lisle going home with the Margaret Trophy for handicraft, the Frost Senior Cup for a miniature garden for eight to 12-year-olds and the Belmont Trophy for most points in her age category.

Her sister, Emma, 14, won the Teens Trophy for her sole entry, while the Frost Junior Cup for the best miniature garden for seven years and under was retained by Eloise Horton, five.

The Lisle sisters had plenty to applaud as well when their relative, Katharine Horwood, won the Leslie Crowther Trophy for three exhibits throughout the show.

Last Saturday's was the first of the annual events in several years to benefit from perfect weather.

The show was accommodated in a marquee on the village playing field.

A total of 54 exhibitors submitted 460 entries from a choice of 174 classes.

Almost 500 people went along to view them after the opening by the society's president, radio and television gardener Sue Phillips.

Tomatoes and potatoes really caught the eye in the vegetable sections as did the vases of gladioli and dahlias among the cut flowers and fuchsias in the pot plants.

The 30 floral art entries were superb as a spectacle and the photographic classes were well supported.

Supporting the flower show were two smaller marquees filled with items of many descriptions such as bread, coffee, tablecloths and spices, with extra stalls in the open.

The traction engine, Buller, puffed its way to the site as a new attraction.

Alongside it was an eighth-sized engine, three tractors organised by Reg New and 20 classic vehicles from members of the Double L-L Club.

The village hall housed a model railway layout and farm models and stalls.

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