'2008 Annual Show winner Eloise Horton with five wins.

From Yapton Correspondent John Dickeson.

Yapton and District Cottage Gardener's Autumn Show 2008, Report from the Show Secretary, David Donovan.

The final flower show of the season was in Yapton Village Hall where the Society attracted 239 entries from 41 exhibitors, a little lower than last year, reflecting some difficult growing conditions, especially in the four days approaching the event.
However, the show went on, and the dahlia growers were careful to select the very best blooms for exhibition, and fortunate to avoid the first frost of the autumn.
In support were vases of other garden flowers and shoots loaded with berries, assorted pot plants, vegetables and fruits, particularly a range of apples.
There were giant marrows and pumpkins, heavyweight potatoes, apples and tomatoes in the novelty classes, but the most visually appealing exhibits were the flower arrangements which currently maintain a high level of excellence.
The remaining sections of the show were for children's exhibits, adult handicraft, (slowly gaining momentum), cookery and photography, the last very well supported and a centre of attraction for visitors.
A beautiful, almost serene start to the day had deteriorated to wind and rain by the afternoon, and those paying to enter the hall numbered just over eighty. However, the plant stall was well patronised and the necessary raffle and tombola tables were well supported by jewellery, cakes, book sales, the day's National Lottery `bonus ball' forecast, and light refreshments served by the kitchen.
The trophy allocations marked the conclusion of the show and the Cottage Gardener's Chairman, Roy Phillips, made the presentations. Retaining the EDITH GODFREY TROPHY as the most successful exhibitor of the day was Alan Humphrey, who also took the NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY SILVER MEDAL for the best vase of this flower, while Malcolm Paradine received the VILLAGE CRIERS TROPHY for his horticultural skills at the year's four shows, and for the best vegetable exhibit at the Autumn show the DEEGAN SHIELD, (six onions). The chairman himself retained the JOAN WADDINGTON MEMORIAL VASE for fuchsia, and Wendy Mutton was the recipient of the NATIONAL DAHLIA SOCIETY BRONZE MEDAL.
David Cole established himself as the most successful flower arranger of this year for the W.R. TROPHY, while Katherine Horwood took the NEIL BAXTER MEMORIAL TROPHY with the combined total for cookery and handicraft.
Alison Marsh successfully defended her title to the AUTUMN CUP FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, and although not represented at this show, TONY BISHOP held the FORD WINE CIRCLE CHALLENGE SHIELD.
The remaining awards went to 11 year old Olivia Lisle; for the most points in the children's classes on the day she was presented with the JUNIOR AUTUMN CUP, and for the year, the JUNIOR VILLAGE CRIERS CUP.
The results of this show may be found on www.yaptongardeners_co.uk.

Next year's season of competition begins on March the 21 nd but the Cottage Gardener's next events will be an evening meeting on October the 29th with the return of Alan Green, and the Yetties folk music concert on November the 7th both at the Village Hall.

First Prize Winners.

Eva Pendreich, Dean Minis, Allison Marsh, David Day, Rose Dunmall, Katherine Horwood, Dianne Booker, Joan Jackson, David Cole,. Alan Humphrey, Valerie Kressner, Roy Phillips, Wendy Minton, Malcolm Paradine, David Donovan, Anne Hollis, Debbie Lawrence, Kent Kressner, Eileen Johnson-Thorne, Katherine Hernsley, John Smith, Mick Chambers, Dorothy Jessup, Robert and Sylvia Ebben, Vicky Millis, Terry Booker, Judith Stemp, Oliv a Lisle, Abigail Ellis, Beth Prior, William Prior.