Rain can’t dampen the competitive spirit at the Burghclere and Newtown Horticultural Society summer show
Despite the rain, the 90th edition of the Burghclere and Newtown Horticultural Society summer show was a resounding success.
The show, which took place in Burghclere’s Portal Hall last Saturday (August 5) had even more exhibits than 2022’s show.
In addition to the usual exhibition of vegetables, fruit and flowers, this year’s summer show featured a potato challenge for the first time.
Participants were given one Charlotte potato in the spring plus a 10- litre pot. Using compost of their choice, the challenge was to grow the potato in the pot and bring it to the show to be emptied and the weight of the crop measured.
The person with the greatest weight of usable potatoes won £10, and out of 30 participants, the winner was Miggie Bruce with a weight of 2.255kg.
The usual skittles competition took place during a gap in the rain and the plant stall did steady business throughout the day.
Music this year was in the main hall and was provided by The Add Hock Band playing and singing standards from the 1930s and 1940s.
The cups and prizes were presented by society president Hugh Marriage, who encouraged everyone to take part in the show in future years.
He mentioned that Briony Canning and John Roskill had been regular entrants to the show since the late 1940s.
The show ended with drawing the raffle and the auction of produce with Neill Bruce taking charge as an efficient auctioneer.
You can read the full list of winners below.
The Banksian Medal, The Philip James Memorial Cup, The Geoffrey Kennedy Memorial Cup – Geoff Morton
The Challenge Cup, The Wait Bowl, The Perpetual Challenge Cup, The Rose Cup and The Adbury Cup – Pat Farley
The Reginald Street Memorial Cup and The E K Field Cup – Doug Ellis
The Tillen Dahlia Cup – Les Wallace
The Sandleford Challenge Cup – Janet Locke
The Mrs Roper-Caldbeck Award, The Ladies Cup, The Photography Cup and the potato competition – Miggie Bruce
The Webber Challenge Cup – Simon Banks
The Society Egg Cup – Linda Saint
McQueen Bowl – Oliver Harmsworth and Ava Atkins
The Junior Cup – Rosie Thomason
The Iris Aggett Mistry Cup – Jessica Cross
The Burghclere Tray – Gold Geoff Morton and Silver Pat Farley
The Burghclere Vase – Gold Angie Tapper, Silver Simon Melville and Bronze Pat Farley
