Rustington awash with the sweet scent of summer

Jayne Pumfrey gets a first for vase of mixed flowers PHOTO: Graham Franks

Rustington Horticultural Association’s weather-hit spring show broke records for all the wrong reasons, but its rose and sweet pea show on Saturday (June 22) set new heights for all the right reasons.

The number of entries was up by almost 25 per cent on last year, with the scent from almost 200 vases of sweet peas, roses and early summer flowers filling the Woodland Centre.

It was not quite so rosy in the vegetable and fruit classes, still suffering from the effects of the prolonged winter, but there was still a tasty selection for visitors to admire.

Show secretary Alison Valentini said: “Thankfully the rain held off on the day and the strong winds failed to deter the steady flow of people coming to support the show, view the floral and photographic displays and enjoy a relaxing rest with the refreshments and home made cakes.”

Roger Parsons had unrivalled success in the sweet pea classes, winning the Dave Sanders Memorial Cup for best exhibit, National Sweet Pea Society bronze medal for best vase, the Rustington Horticultural Association Sweet Pea Cup for most points and the Glass Goblet for best horticultural exhibit.

Mac MacCulloch was awarded the RHA Rose Cup for most rose points and the Eric Norrell Rose Cup for best rose exhibit, while Tony Welch was a  triple winner, receiving the Tom Lloyd Memorial Plate for best yellow rose, the J. F. Passmore Cup for best pot plant and a certificate for best vegetable exhibit.

Other trophy winners: Sylvia Hesling, Glass Goblet for most floral art points and a certificate for best floral art exhibit; Dave Napper, the Wally Barnes Cup for most points sin flowers, vegetable and fruit classes; Jeffrey Haine, the Glass Goblet for best photography exhibit; Malcolm Paradine, certificate for most vegetable points; David Stubbings, certificate for most fruit points; Christine Fry, certificate for best small sweet pea grower exhibit.

Other first prize winners: G. Richards, Ted Banks, Fred Spanton, Carole Robertson, Glynne Collins, Jayne Pumphrey, Julie MacCulloch, Peter Mazillius, Peter Russell, Felicity Funnell, Carol Spanton, Claudio Valentini, Valerie Narayanaswamy, Rohan Mills, Susannah Spanton.