Autumn was celebrated in all its glory at the Wokingham Horticultural Show, held, after a three-year absence, at St Paul’s Parish Rooms.
Some 100 attendees enjoyed more than 180 exhibits including a flower section awash with colour.
Dahlias took centre stage with a brilliant display from keen growers.
First-time exhibitor Carl Curtis gained the most points in the dahlia classes, winning the Dahlia Cup as well as the Wokingham Times Cup for five excellent pom pom dahlias whilst Terry Miller won the National Dahlia Society bronze medal for the best exhibit overall.
Terry also won the Murray Chrysanthemum Cup and the Banksian medal for most points in the horticultural section.
The Greywell Challenge Cup was awarded to Cathy Stratton with most points in the flower section, excluding dahlias and chrysanthemums; her vase of Japanese Anemones in three different shades won first prize.
The Wilkins Memorial Plate for a display of mixed flowers went to WHA President Jenny Gilbert.
In the vegetable section, Sheila McKeand gained the most points and the RHS Bronze medal with entries of beetroot, carrots, cabbages, sweetcorn, chillies and tomatoes from her allotment, while nonagenarian Fred Preston won the National Vegetable Society Medal with five exceptional potatoes and the Premier Cup.
Roy Rabbitts’ superb Collection of Vegetables gained him the Garden News Shield, and he also won the Victory Cup aggregated over the year in the Vegetable Section.
Fellow Ormonde Road allotmenteer Kevin Beautement won both the Fruit Cup and the annual fruit section award of the Phillips Cup.
Talented Cheryl Cook’s colourful and mouth-watering selection of mixed vegetables displayed in a basket, visited by a knitted bee, was admired by many for the quality and variety of vegetables and the Judge awarded her a Certificate of Merit for an outstanding exhibit.
Cheryl also excelled in the Domestic Section winning the Mitchell Cup for most points in that class.
Her entries included a wonderful and traditional Harvest wheatsheaf.
The most outstanding entry in the Domestic Section was a delicious Harvest Quiche in the Gentlemen Only class, made by Marek Lokuciewski, who was awarded a Certificate of Merit.
Nine-year-old Hemashri Radhakrishnaiah’s entry of a dolphin made from recycled materials caught the eye of the judges and visitors, and won the Southfield School Autumn Cup
There were fantastic and eye-catching displays in the flower arrangement section, with the Bellamy Cup for the most points awarded to Doreen Hogston.
Visitors to the Show voted overwhelmingly for Pauline MacBrayne’s interpretation of a floral handbag as an outstanding exhibit.
Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Sally Gurney, was delighted to attend to tour the exhibits and present the prizes.
She was impressed with the variety and quality of the exhibits and enjoyed talking to exhibitors, particularly about the displays of dahlias.
The WHA was pleased to welcome her to the show along with other new faces and old friends.
For more details, log on to: www.w-h-a.org.uk
Pauline MacBrayne and Sheila McKeand
