We held our Annual Show on Saturday 16th July. The show is an opportunity for members and non-members of Godstone Gardeners’ Club, (now in its 42nd year), to show items they have grown, crafted or made. There are six categories that include flowers, fruit and vegetables, handicrafts and photography, floral art, domestic and a special category for the children of Godstone Village School.
The show was well attended, with almost 40 people entering exhibits in one or more of the 78 classes with over 250 entries in all. Once judging was completed in the morning, the show is opened to the public from 2pm. Over 100 visitors attended during the afternoon where they had the opportunity to look at all of the entries, see who the winners were in each category and enjoy a cup of tea and some homemade cake. There was also a raffle with a variety of prizes ranging from those closely related to gardening and some rather more drinkable options!
Shortly after 3.30pm, the awards were presented. These are trophies awarded in each category with specific criteria for winning. This year’s winners were as follows:
Presidents Cup – Awarded for the best exhibit in the Flower category, (selected by the judge) – Sue Warren for her vase of Mixed Garden Flowers.
CJ Salter Cup – Awarded to the Chairman’s choice of best exhibit in show – Eileen Atherley for her entry in the Floral Art section entitled, ‘Welcome Home Major Peake’, in recognition of Major Tim Peak’s six months in space on the International Space Station.
Jubilee Cup – Awarded for the best exhibit in the Roses classes, (selected by the judge) – Brian Knight for his ‘Three Stage Roses’, (1 bud, 1 specimen and 1 full bloom)
HEB Andrews Cup – Awarded for the most points in the Floral Art category – Eileen Atherley having gained 8 points for two 1st and two 3rd places
Gwyneth Shaw Cup – Awarded for the best exhibit in the Floral Art category, (selected by the judge) – Eileen Atherley for her entry entitled, ‘Bon Chance au Tour de France’ in support of British Cyclist Chris Froome who is attempting a historic third win of the Tour de France, (and was leading on the day of the show)
John Vaughan Cup – Awarded for the best exhibit in the Fruit and Vegetable category, (selected by the judge) – Michael Panayiotou for his ‘Collection of four kinds of vegetable’
Olive Clark Shield – Awarded for the most points in the Fruit and Vegetable category – Michael Panayiotou who achieved 25 points, narrowly beating Brian Knight.
Jane Cooper Cup – Awarded for the best exhibit in the Handicraft category, (selected by the judge) – Pearl Netley for her Specimen of Needlework.
Hugh Andrew Cup – Awarded for the most points in the Domestic category – Alex Rabbetts who achieved 14 points, narrowly beating his nearest rival of Chris Reynolds
Show Secretary’s Shield – Awarded to the Show Secretary’s choice of best exhibit in show – Zena Kohler for her imaginative entry entitled ‘Bon Chance au Tour de France’ which was an arrangement in a cycling helmet, supported by a pump mounted on a map of the tour and with all four of the special jerseys worn by riders arranged within the display.
Banksian Medal – An RHS Medal awarded for the most points in the horticultural categories, (flowers, fruit and vegetable) – Brian Knight who achieved an overall score of 33 points which was some 8 points clear of his nearest rival!
Following the presentations, the Chairman, Sylvia Pocock, thanked the judges this year, (Paul Grimmer for Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables, Jane Cooper for Handicraft and Photography, Evelyn Dawe for Floral Art and Yvonne King for the Domestic category), she went on to thank all of the exhibitors and visitors for their support and the Show Secretary, (this year Alex Rabbetts), for organising the show, along with the club committee for their help too. The club’s President, Brian Knight, then thanked the Chairman and once again, the exhibitors and their efforts in making it a great show. The raffle was then drawn and the show closed.
All in all, the show was a great success thanks to the great efforts of all of the exhibitors in putting on a show in quite a difficult growing year. Next year’s show will be held in September with hopefully an even bigger and better show. Overheard when the doors had finally closed after clearing up, the Show Secretary said, “I haven’t ached this much and been so tired since last year”! Until next year then …