Weather takes its toll but doesn’t spoil East Preston show

Show secretary Primrose Buckley said there was a distinct decrease in the overall quality and quantity at this year’s exhibit, at the Conservative Hall.

She added that wet and windy weather in recent months had plague many of the horticulturists entering the weekend’s competition, making it difficult for their roses to be at the best.

“Entries for this year were down and the standard of the entries was unusually low,” she explained. “I believe this was mainly due to the poor weather that many we have had to deal with over the past year or so.

“The effects of which are still visible.”

However, in spite of the poor weather and challenging conditions, competition at the event was still fierce.

Patrick Sims proved to be the most successful exhibitor at Saturday’s event, for the second year running.

He took home the Helen Cryer Memorial Bowl for the most points in the show and the Butterfill Cup for the best sweet peas – echoing some of his achievement at last year’s event.

Yvonne Jones won the Pryor Cup for the best rose in show. The Renée Lawrence Bowl for best specimen rose went to Joy Aldridge.

Lesley Partridge was presented with the Delphinium Challenge Cup with David Stubbings winning the Fuchsia Society’s blue rosette for the best fuchsia display.

Other first prize winners included: Jocelyn Silk, Amanda O’Shea, Sarah Hill, Wendy Ray, Colin Crane, Terry Longman, Dee Chamberlain and Katie Hill.

The society is now readying itself for the big summer show on the first Saturday in August.

Primrose added: “That’s going to be our big event for this year which will hopefully include a dog show and other attractions.”