Rose and Sweet Pea Show survives storms - just!

Storms nearly defeated growers as they prepared for Rustington Horticultural Association's Rose and Sweet Pea Show.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jun 2016, 14:45 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 02:27 BST
Barry Bezants won the J.F. Passmore Cup for best pot plantBarry Bezants won the J.F. Passmore Cup for best pot plant
Barry Bezants won the J.F. Passmore Cup for best pot plant

The show went ahead at the Woodland Centre on Saturday but the number of entries was considerably reduced compared to previous years.

Show secretary Alison Valentini said: “For the first time that I can recall, the storms wreaked havoc enough to almost, but not quite, defeat the rose and sweet pea exhibitors.

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“Nonetheless, the main hall of the Woodland Centre was still a riot of colour and the scent of sweet peas was noticeable as you walked in.”

Fred Spanton won best exhibit in classes for growers of less than 50 sweet pea plantsFred Spanton won best exhibit in classes for growers of less than 50 sweet pea plants
Fred Spanton won best exhibit in classes for growers of less than 50 sweet pea plants

Strawberries, however, have been a bumper crop this year and the fruit classes were well supported.

Indoor grown pot plants were unaffected by the weather, so there were some spectacular flowering and foliage examples on show.

The photography classes gave the judge plenty to ponder over and, as always, the home-made cakes were an attraction.

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Alison added: “Many visitors lingered to savour the culinary naughties while admiring the skills of the floral art competitors.”

Sweet pea plants that survived the stormsSweet pea plants that survived the storms
Sweet pea plants that survived the storms

Cup winners were:-

Tony Welch – RHA Sweet Pea Cup for most points in sweet pea classes, Dave Sanders Memorial Cup for best exhibit sweet peas, RHA Rose Cup for most points in rose classes, and National Sweet Pea Society Bronze Medal for best vase of sweet peas.

Barry Bezants – RHA Glass Goblet for best exhibit in horticultural classes, J.F. Passmore Cup for best pot plant, Wally Barnes Cup for most points in flowers, vegetable and fruit classes, and certificate for best vegetable exhibit.

Jenny Starns – Eric Norrell Rose Cup for best exhibit roses.

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The scene in the main hall at the Woodland CentreThe scene in the main hall at the Woodland Centre
The scene in the main hall at the Woodland Centre

Eric Norrell – Tom Lloyd Memorial Plate for best yellow rose.

Sylvia Hesling – certificate for best floral art exhibit.

Christine Fry – certificate for most points in vegetable classes.

David Donovan – certificate for most points in fruit classes.

Fred Spanton – best exhibit in classes for growers of less than 50 sweet pea plants.

Other first prize winners:-

Krishnan Davidson, Jeffrey Haine, Valerie Narayanaswamy, Kathy Oldfield, Mavis Potten, Carol Spanton, Alison Valentini, Claudio Valentini, Anne Adams.