By Isle of Wight Observer
Darren Everest, the IW Observer gardening expert, took the Best in Show award for his impressive dahlia-packed container of flowers and foliage at the Brighstone and District Horticultural Society Autumn Show. The show took place at the Wilberforce Hall and Scout Hut, last Saturday.
Despite the challenging growing conditions this year, there was a good entry in horticultural classes with other categories also well-supported with entries in Floral Art up on previous years.
There were some impressive entries in the society challenge classes, which had been set at the start of the year, one of which was to grow a Marina di Chioggia squash from seed supplied by the BHS.
The People’s Choice Award went to Joseph Pontin, a junior entrant, who was a clear winner for his large and unusually-shaped tromboncino, a long, thin variety of butternut squash, a heritage variety from Italy.
Cup winners: John Cull Memorial Cup – Best in Show: Darren Everest; People’s Choice Award, Joseph Pontin; Dave Bartlett Shield – Most Points: James Kingswell; Bob Buckett Memorial Cup – Apple: Viv Langford; Fruit Cup: Bob Castle; Jim Rice Shield – Onion: James Kinsgwell; Percy Westmore Cup – Potato: James Kingswell; Vegetable: James Kingswell; Flower Cup: Darren Everest; Pot Plant Cup: Becky Kingswell; Floral Art Cup: Barbara Billington; Cookery Cup: Margaret McLaughlin and Rebecca Walker; Handicraft Cup: Roy Vousden; Wine Cup, Mike Roberts; Photography Cup: Theresa and Steve Tearle; Children’s Cup: Edmund Williams.