HIGH standards made life tough for the judges at Southam Flower and Produce Show.
The annual show saw more than 400 entries on display – produce, flowers, baking and handicrafts – at the Grange Hall.
The baking judges were presented with a challenging 14 Victoria sponges, 15 Lemon Drizzle cakes and 16 pots of chutney and pickle to sample. They also had to judge jams, quiches, cheese scones, chocolate brownies, cupcakes and treacle tarts.
The ever-popular handicrafts section featured 70 different items including ‘townscape’ paintings, embroidery, greeting cards, needlecrafts and handmade toys.
But it was the vegetables, fruit, flowers and plants which really had the judges working hard, with 174 entries, including a massive pumpkin, wonderful onions and a plethora of tomatoes, courgettes, carrots and beans.
Residents from the British Legion Galanos House residents took part again this year and received prizes in several categories, while Southam WI turned out in force to support the show – entering their own exhibits and also providing lunches for the volunteers and refreshments for visitors.
Southam mayor Mike Brooks presented the trophies and Peter Sadler auctioned the produce donated by exhibitors.
The provisional date for next year’s Show is September 5.
Trophy winners were Vegetable Shield – Tessa Sadler, Vegetable Collection Cup – Simon Wilson, Fruit Cup – Lynda Reece, Flowers & Plants Trophy – Lesley Smith, WI Baking Trophy – Carole Gwillam, Oopsadaisy Handicrafts Trophy – Maggie Bence.
Children’s Trophies – Under 5s Alana Harvey-Badger, Age 5-8 – Ben Johnson, Age 9-12 – Evie Gardner.
The Stoneythorpe Hall Best in Show Trophy was won by Simon Wilson for his Vegetable Collection and the Jackson Trophy for Children’s Best in Show was awarded to Payson Glynn for her animal made from vegetables.
