2019 Show Report

The report for the Llantwit Major Flower and Vegetable Show held on 17th August 2019.

'A SHOW DAY FROM OUR GARDENERS '

On Saturday 17th August the Llantwit Major Horticultural Society presented it's 45th annual flower and vegetable show to the people of our town and the neighbouring villages from our new venue in the Llantonian Hall. The growing year beforehand had similarities and challenging conditions to last year, weather extremes not hugely enjoyed if you are a gardener or grower relying on consistency. The recent winds and rains were most unwelcome for our budding flower arrangers, it also caused havoc in the vegetable patches. With this in mind I have great admiration for the 37 exhibitors that created the wonderful displays.

Our Society would like to thank the following businesses for their support and contributions. Our show sponsor Filco Supermarkets and the MADL fund. Raffle prizes were gratefully received from: Waitrose and Partners Cowbridge, Topstak, The Co-Operative Group, D.T.Browns, Pugh's Garden Village Wenvoe, Filco Supermarket Llantwit Major and LMHS members. We also thank our exhibitors, our visitors and the supporters who worked tirelessly throughout the day. All of you made the day for our community.

There were a total of 207 exhibits, this was slightly down on last year as some of our previous exhibitors had other longstanding arrangement. However the quality more than made up for this shortfall, well done to you all for keeping the standards high. The judges were very pleased with all the exhibits on show, an expression that we all felt on walking around the displays. As you did walk about all the floral displays you could not help but to admire the beautiful colours and originality from these exhibits. Our home produce judge Mrs Sheena Sarjeant was impressed with the quality and quantity of home produce that she had to judge, must have been a veritable delight sampling the many cakes, jams, marmalade, chutneys, home brews and the fine cakes made by the children.

Along the vegetable and fruit tables there were pears, plums, apples and onions, sweetcorn, beetroots, cabbages and cucumbers, giant runner beans and many more. We had imaginative exhibits in the children's section and from our novice vegetable growers. Ella Stark, Phoebe Latham and Oscar Thomas aged 3 touched hearts with their baking, miniature gardens, animals made from fruit and vegetables and foliage displays. For the first time we had a children's class of five different vegetables and this was won by Daniel Winther-Hartley. There were more novice items which is encouraging and the overall winner was Nichola Harler-Witts from Wick.

Within the show were exhibitors Liz Renton, Sylvia Comben, Cath Thomas, Jarrod Windsor, Annabel and Bill Aspinall all receiving prize money. Chris Jones won Best in Show and the best flower exhibit. Tim Prior won the best vegetable exhibit with five matching onions and was awarded with the National Vegetable Societies silver medal. The Chamber of Trade plaque was awarded to Alison Leach who also won the prestigious RHS Banksian medal for the most money won in classes 1 to 47 an outstanding achievement. The Top Vase of mixed flowering stems, a beautiful arrangement won by Janice Simmonite. Chris Jones again excelled winning trophies and cups for most points in the floral classes, decoratives and lastly overall winner in the Home produce section. Well done Chris. Elaine Brown won the D T Brown cup for most entries, 19 in all and the best fruit exhibit, fantastic. The LMHS has one award which should have a large 'E' for effort on it and it is awarded to the individual(s) who over the months have maintained an allotment in Llanmaes Road. This has been awarded to Chris Burford, congratulations. Our young exhibitors were all successful in winning prizes, large red rosettes and certificates of excellence. The LMHS cups and trophies were presented by our society chairman Bill Lee on behalf of Filco Supermarkets.

This year the Llantwit Major Town Council re instigated the competition of 'The best kept front garden' for our community, private gardens loved by the owners and shared with us. The eventual winner after judging was Paula Kirkham, many congratulation Paula. The Mayor of Llantwit Major Councilor Robert Gant presided in presenting the Town Council Cup to her.

We hope that our exhibitors enthusiasm will encourage more flower and vegetable growers to add to our show of next year which will be held on the 15th August 2020. You do not have to be a LMHS member to exhibit so why not give it a try!

Please note, all the photographs were taken by Matt Fallows of the Vale Photographic Club and a large selection can be viewed on the Society website at: www.llantwit-major-horticultural-society.com. You can also visit our web site and find out about the lectures, trips and meetings.

Tim Prior (LMHS Show Secretary)

Trophy winners.

Bill Webb Shield – Best exhibit in show – Chris Jones.

Town Council Cup – Exhibitor with most points – Chris Jones.

D T Brown Cup – Exhibitor with most entries – Elaine Brown.

E A Lloyd Cup – Class 21, six vegetables – Tim Prior.

Keith & Jean Powell Shield – Best fruit exhibit in classes 23-28 – Elaine Brown.

Society Rose Bowl – Best flower exhibit – Chris Jones.

Society Cup – Best vegetable exhibit – Tim Prior.

W Deere Memorial Trophy – Most points in decorative class – Chris Jones.

Show Secretaries Shield – Best dish of runner beans – Tim Prior.

D T Brown Cup – Best dish of tomatoes – Annabel Aspinall.