Clean sweep for women at 60th Sidmouth Garden Club spring show

THE 60th anniversary spring show for Sidmouth Garden Club has been a triumph for lady competitors, who make a clean sweep of trophies and medals awarded for excellence and beauty.

Cloudless skies greeted last Thursday's show, and while entries were up, visitor numbers were not as good as hoped for.

"The weather was just too nice," said chairman John Vaughan. "The show didn't go as well as we'd hoped but the exhibits were excellent and the ladies wiped the board. They slaughtered the men!"

Jill Cronk and Nita Grigg entered exhibits judges described as 'outstanding'. Jill won five trophies while Nita won two.

Usual stalwarts John Dyer, Paul Kiddle and John Wright (show director) won classes but were knocked off the trophy table by the women - Diana Robertshaw, Alsia Dixon, Christine Bull and Vera Stockton.

Some 180 entries filled All Saints Church hall with the scent of daffodils, but, because the show was brought forward a fortnight, and with a harsher winter than expected, it lacked tulips, camellias and grape hyacinths "a must for any spring show," he said.

"The cold weather also had an adverse effect on the daffodils, with some gardeners in parts of Sidmouth and surroundings still waiting for theirs to bloom.

"Tulips were even more affected, with only indoor grown flowers displayed."

But some of the finest daffodils ever seen were produced by Mr Kiddle, Mr Dyer, John Patrick and Mr Wright.

"With these members of the club, our future looks rosy," said Mr Vaughan, who estimates 200 visited the show, less than usual.

"What a pity they missed a display of such beautiful spring flowers, indoor plants and cacti and succulents.

"The exhibitors can only be congratulated on stunning varieties, colours, and ingenuity in designing delicate and tender plants," he said.

For the first time this year, a domestic class was introduced in the show for baking a Victoria Sandwich.

Organisers were delighted with the response and hope its autumn show on September 10, will produce a similar response.

Plans are now underway for the club's summer show at the hall on Thursday, June 18.

Mr Vaughan said: "Why not consider making an entry in the show. Better still, why not join the club?"

Call John Wright on (01395) 515716 for more details.

Results:

COLWILL CUP..............................................................Christine Bull

COTTRELL CUP...........................................................Jill Cronk

EVELYN WATSON TROPHY..........................................Alsia Dixon

ARNOLD CUP..............................................................Jill Cronk

DAFFODIL RON CUP...................................................Vera Stockton

DAFFODIL SOCIETY BRONZE MEDAL............................. Jill Cronk DAFFODIL CHALLENGE CUP......................................... Jill Cronk

DAVID RADLEY TROPHY...............................................Diana Robertshaw

POLYANTHUS CHALLENGE CUP....................................Nita Grigg

E. L. WOOD CUP..................................................................... Nita Grigg

DAFFODIL SOCIETY Best Bloom in Show CERTIFICATE..... Jill Cronk

DECORATIVE

1. 1. Christine Bull; 2. Alsia Dixon.

2. 1. Jill Cronk; 2. Vera Stockton; 3. Alsia Dixon.

3. 1. Alsia Dixon; 2. Vera Stockton.

4. NO ENTRIES

5. 1. Alsia Dixon.

6. 1. John Vaughan.

7. NO ENTRIES

8. 1. Alsia Dixon; 2. Vera Stockton; 3. Christine Bull.

9. 1. Jill Cronk; 2. Alsia Dixon; 3. Vera Stockton; HC Jean Hedges.

DAFFODILS

10. 1. Jill Cronk; 2. John Wright; 3. Vera Stockton.

11. 1. John Patrick; 2. Gwen Vaughan; 3. Vera Stockton.

12. 1. John Dyer; 2. John Wright; 3. John Patrick.

13. 1. Jill Cronk; 2. John Wright; 3. John Wright.

14. 1. Vera Stockton; 2. John Patrick; 3. Paul Kiddle.

15. 2. John Dyer.

16. 1. John Wright; 2. Jill Cronk; 3. John Dyer.

17. 1. John Wright.

18. 1. Gwen Vaughan.

19. NO ENTRIES

20. 1. John Dyer; 2. John Patrick; 3. John Wright.

21. 1. John Patrick; 2. John Wright; 3. John Wright.

22. 1. Paul Kiddle; 2. John Wright.

23. 1. John Dyer; 2. Doreen Pound.

24. 1. John Dyer; 2. Jill Cronk; 3. John Wright.

25. 1. John Dyer; 2. Gwen Vaughan; 3. Vera Stockton.

26. 1. Vera Stockton.

27. NO ENTRIES

HARDY CUT FLOWERS

28. 1. Diana Robertshaw; 2. Diana Robertshaw; 3. John Wright.

29. 1. Jean Hedges.

30. 1. Vera Stockton; 2. Doreen Pound; 3. John Wright.

31. 1. Diana Robertshaw; 2. Alsia Dixon; 3. Mr D Laidler.

32. 1. Vera Stockton; 2. Doreen Pound; 3. Mr D Laidler.

33. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. Mr D Laidler; 3. Nita Grigg; HC. Doreen Pound.

34. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. John Wright; 3. Doreen Pound.

35. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. Doreen Pound; 3. Christine Bull.

36. 1. John Wright; 2. Vera Stockton; 3. Doreen Pound.

37. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. Diana Robertshaw; 3. Christine Bull; HC. Vera Stockton.

38. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. Diana Robertshaw; 3. Vera Stockton; HC. Doreen Pound.

39. 1. Diana Robertshaw; 2. John Wright; 3. Doreen Pound.

40. 1. Sue Bartlett; 2. Nita Grigg; 3. Vera Stockton.

POT PLANTS

41. 1. Jill Cronk; 2. John Wright.

42. 1. Vera Stockton; 2. Diana Robertshaw; 3. Doreen Pound.

43. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. John Wright; 3. Vera Stockton.

44. 1. Paddy Chew; 2. Vera Stockton.

45. 1. Paul Kiddle; 2. Diana Robertshaw; 3. Diana Robertshaw.

46. 1. Christine Bull.

47. 1. Nita Grigg; 2. Paddy Chew; 3. Diana Robertshaw; HC. Vera Stockton.

DOMESTIC - Victoria Sandwich

48. 1. Audrey Wright; 2. Vera Stockton; 3. Paddy Chew.

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