The West Alvington Horticultural Society held its 18th Spring Show last Saturday, with beautiful arrays of colourful daffodils, camellias, tulips and hyacinths.

Secretary and treasurer Keith Steer explained that entries had fallen slightly despite the bad weather and snow.

Keith said: “Our flower judge, Jim Collins, stated that the entries were of a very high standard and a real pleasure to judge”.

The champion of the day was June Steer with some of the best daffodils and spring flowers she had ever grown. She secured the cup for the most points in the show against stiff competition, the daffodil cup and the cup for other spring flowers.

She also won the blue ribbon with a spectacular bowl of mixed spring flowers, two certificates for merit for a superb bowl of nine mixed daffodils and an exhibit of tulips, with her 10 first prizes.

Cynthia Morgan won the Bowringleigh Trophy for shrubs and camellias, who also triumphed in the floral art section beating Jan Finbow by one point. Diane Tucker and Joe Brownlie won the handicrafts section, and Keith Steer shared the cup for the most points in the photography section.

The society was “delighted” by the number of entries exhibited by West Alvington Primary School children with their pictures of ‘My Mum’. William Bates took the cup for the first junior section beating Evie Rolfe by one point, and Millie Prowse will require the silver polish in the older aged section.

At the celebratory luncheon at The Cottage Hotel the guests fell silent in memory of judges Harry and Merle Colclough who had recently passed away within less than a week of each other. Their double funeral being held at Collaton St Mary Church, Paignton, on March 28 at 1pm.

Proceedings were brought to an early close due to the falling snow and the 2018 President Mrs Pat Janes, a great supporter and friend of the show and their longest serving judge, presented the cups and trophies.

The committee were “extremely grateful” to all the judges, Jim Collins, Jackie Case, Janet Wingate, Jeremy Willcocks, Vicky Browne and Harriet Brooks-Brownlie, who give their time free of charge.

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Results

WEST ALVINGTON PARISH CUP: June Steer, Runner Up: Tony Church

DAFFODIL CUP: June Steer, Runner Up: Terry Reeves

SPRING FLOWERS CUP OTHER THAN DAFFOLDILS: June Steer, Runner Up: Tony Church

BOWRINGSLEIGH CUP: Winner: Cynthia Morgan, Runner Up: Peter Roberts

HANDICRAFTS CUP: Diane Tucker, Runner Up: Hilary Dainty

PHOTOGRAPHY CUP: Keith Steer and Joe Brownlie, Runners Up: David Bond and Michael Brooking

FLORAL ART CUP: Cynthia Morgan, Runner up: Jan Finbow

JUNIOR CUP 1: William Bates

JUNIOR CUP II: Millie Prowse

BLUE RIBBON FOR BEST EXHIBIT IN SHOW: June Steer.

REPLICA CUPS: John Lee and Diane Rogers

CERTIFICATES OF MERIT: June Steer (3), Cynthia Morgan (2), William Bates, Diane Rogers, Millie Prowse, Joe Brownlie, and Tony Church.

FIRST PRIZE WINNERS: Mrs J Steer (10), Mrs D Rogers, Mrs C Morgan (4), W Bates, J Brownlie, AR Church, Millie Prowse, (3), Mrs J Finbow, Ms D Mitchell (2), Rev. D Bond, Mrs H Dainty, TJ Reeves, Evie Rolfe, KA Steer, Mrs J Walster (1), Other Prize Winners: M Brooking, R Gould, Mrs S Norsworthy, Mrs V Oatley. Maisie Prowse.