PICTURES: Rustington Horticultural Association's summer show

The weather threatened to dampen the day for Rustington Horticultural Association’s final flower show of 2016, which was held on Saturday, August 20.

Heavy rain and strong winds forecast for 24 hours before the show meant exhibitors had to plan ahead and pick many exhibits early and store them safely to prevent the unseasonable weather spoiling all their hard work.

Thankfully it paid off, and the Woodlands Centre was filled with beautiful, high quality exhibits.

Alison Valentini, show secretary, said: “Dahlias with blooms as large as a football and as small as a golf ball, in a myriad of colours gave the judges plenty of work and was a feast for the eyes as visitors entered the show.

“Roses, gladioli and fuchsias filled the show benches too and the vegetables and fruit completed filling the main halls show benches.

“The sponsored vegetable collection classes are always popular with exhibitors and these demonstrated beautifully just what can be achieved.

“The ever popular photography classes were well supported, which along with the floral art, provided interest for the many visitors as they dodged the windy, showery weather and enjoyed some home-made refreshments.”

The Cup and Certificate Winners were Tony Welch (Hands memorial Cup (most points in the Rose classes), Oliver Cup (Best Rose Exhibit), Onion Challenge Cup (Best Onion Exhibit)), Mick and Wendy Minton (Colley Challenge Cup (Best allotment), Certificate for best 10 rod allotment), Gary Frostick (Certificate for best five rod allotment), Marie Keet (Parry Silver Challenge Bowl (most points in Floral Art classes)), Barry Bezants (British Fuchsia Society Blue Rosette (Best Fuchsia Exhibit), British Fuchsia Society Bronze Medal (most points in Fuchsia classes), Knight Cup (Best Exhibit in Fruit classes)), Mick Marshall (Banksian Medal (most amount of prize monies in horticultural classes over all three shows), Whitehead Challenge Bowl (most points in the flower classes), Certificate (most meritorious exhibit in flower classes), National Dahlia Society Silver Medal (Best Exhibit Dahlias), Potato Challenge Cup (winner of potato collection class), Leggett Challenge Bowl (Best Overall Exhibit in flowers, vegetable and fruit classes), Eric Norrell (Gardner Cup (winner of class for two vases, two distinct types of flowers), Patrick Southerton Cup (Best Vase of three small Dahlia classes)), Alan Humphrey (Williamson Cup (most points in Dahlia classes), National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal (second Best Exhibit, Dahlias)), Fred Spanton (National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal (Best Exhibit in Dahlia classes for those with less than 30 plants)), Mick Minton (Certificates of Merit (Best Gladiolus Spike, Best Gladiolus Exhibit), Bruce Cup (most points in Gladiolus classes), Winner of Top Vase class, Certificate (most meritorious vegetable exhibit), Ashridge Challenge Cup (winner of vegetable collection class), A Kilhams Memorial Cup (Best Vegetable Exhibit), Winner of Top Tray class, H F Ellis Cup (Winner of Master Gardner class)), David Donovan (Cookery Challenge Cup (most points in Cookery classes)), and Abi Pendleton (Certificate for Junior Masterchef Award, Molly Hartley Cup (most points in Junior classes over all three shows)).

The other First Prize winners were: Babs Blake, Bill Blake, Sue Butler, Carole Carter, Julie Churcher, Christine Fry, Sylvia Hesling, Agnieszka Jarmula, M Kempson, Isabelle Layt, Kathy Oldfield, Sarah Oldfield, Carmel Pardi, Mavis Potten, Carol Spanton, Jenny Starns, Alison Valentini, Claudio Valentini, Elaine West, and David Stubbings.

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