Ardleigh & District Horticultural Society

The Society’s Annual Flower & Produce Show took place, for the first time since 2019, on Saturday 20^th August and despite the very hot and dry conditions for growing vegetables and flowers was very successful. 441 entries were on display in categories covering flowers, vegetables, fruit, floral art, wine, cookery, handicraft, photography and children’s entries. The Society was delighted to welcome 16 new exhibitors.   Visitors were treated to a wonderful display of exhibits which filled the village hall and they were also able to enjoy a welcome cup of tea and a slice of home-made cake.

The cups & trophies were presented by Colin Davey from Craft Nurseries of Lawford (the main sponsors of the show).

Trophy winners were:- 

R J Croxon Tankard (Most Points Ardleigh Residents Only Classes) – John Culley

E C Catling Cup (Runner Up Most Points Ardleigh Residents Only Classes) – Kevin Jackson

S H Every Cup (Most Points Fruit & Vegetables) - Judy Owens

The Bill Sparkes Salver (Best Vegetable Exhibit) – Judy Owens

G Osborne Cup (Most Points Flowers) – Kevin Jackson

The Connie Revill Trophy (Best Gladiolus Exhibit) - Andy Owens

Mrs B Sparling Special Prize (Best Flower Exhibit) – Andy Owens

W Hudson Cup (Most Points Dahlias) – Roger Cook

The Patrick and Lilian Sparling Memorial Salver (Best Dahlia Exhibit) – Roger Cook

W J Freeman Cup (Most Points Flower Arranging) – Diana Whitifield

Best Flower Arranging Exhibit – Carolyn Mason

Mrs E Clayton Cup (Most Points Wine) – John Culley

Best Exhibit of wine – John Culley

Mrs V Mowles Cup (Most Points Cookery) – Mrs M Higgins

The Downing Salver (Best Cookery Exhibit) – Jo Coffey

L S Trew Cup (Most Points Handicrafts) – Barbara Borrell

Best Handicrafts Exhibit – Jill Geddes

JM and BK Pearce Camera Cup (Most Points Photography) – Pat Ainger

D Underdown Trophy (Runner Up Most Points Photography) – Caroline Searle

Best Photography Exhibit – Caroline Searle

Mrs R Parsons Cup (Most Points Children 4 Years and Under) – Ben Fleming

Dorothy Culley Cup (Most Points Children 5 to 8 Years) – Joe Fleming and Lucas Bonney

J Snell Cup (Most Points Children 9 to 13 years) – Kia Bonney

David Sibley Shield (Best exhibit in the Children's Classes) – Lucas Bonney

The Edwards Shield (Best exhibit St.Mary's School Gardening Club class) – Edward Coombs

Lynne Askham Perpetual Rose Bowl (Most Points in Home Crafts – Cookery, Handicrafts & Flower Arranging) – Barbara Borrell and Rosie Jackson

Brian Dundon Cup (New Exhibitor with most points all classes) – Barbara Borrell

Gordon Locke Shield (Most Points Ardleigh Resident all classes) – John Culley

Mrs R Parsons Shield (Most Points All Classes) – John Culley

The Society would like to thank Craft Nurseries, the main sponsor of the show, and Percival Engineering, The Debbie Millar School of Dance, Ardleigh Garden Maintenance and the Jubilee Restaurant who all sponsored sections of the show, also Alresford Camera Club who donated a voucher for the best photograph, and David Mason who transported the tables for us.   The Society is most grateful to all the exhibitors and all those who helped make the show a success.

A date for your diary - next year’s show will be on Saturday 19^th August 2023

 Best Exhibits

Best Exhibit in Vegetable Classes    5 Coloured Potatoes. Judy Owens		Best Exhibit in Gladiolus Classes  Vase of 3 Gladioli - Andy Owens		Best Exhibit in Flowers Section A vase of 10 stems of mixed fowers of at least 3 different genus - Andy Owens
Best Exhibit in Dahlias Section 3 vases of any cultivar of dahlias - 3 blooms per vase - Roger Cook		Best Exhibit in Decorative (Flower Arranging) Section A petite arrangement indorporating a cup and saucer - Carolyn Mason		Best Exhibit in Wine Section 1 bottle of Sweet Root Vegetable Wine - John Culley
Best Exhibit in Cookery Section 5 Undecorated Sweet Biscuits - Jo Coffey		Best Exhibit in Handicrafts Section A handmade Soft Toy - Jill Geddes		Best Exhibit in Photography Section A Tower or Lighthouse - Caroline Searle
Best Exhibit in Children's Section A Greetings Card (Children aged 5 - 8 inclusive) - Lucas Bonney

The following photographs were kindly taken by our Photograhy judge John Merison, Chairman of Arlesford Camera Club.