Sun shines on Ballymena Garden Club’s Annual Spring Show

On the day the organising committee were delighted to find that sufficient entries were received to fill the hall with blooms.

Alderman Robin Cherry MBE, Deputy Mayor of Ballymena, was the special guest for the afternoon who, after touring the exhibits, distributed the awards. As a farmer he was able to relate to gardeners regarding problems posed by weather and breeding new varieties.

Despite the late date for the Show, members of the Northern Ireland Daffodil Group produced a magnificent display of exhibition blooms in peak condition. On this occasion it was the Club’s turn to host the Group’s Silver Thread Award competition which was keenly contested.

The Floral Art Section was well supported with exhibitors showing amazing creativity in their interpretation of the set assignments.

Entries in the pot plant, cut flowers, flowering shrub and cacti classes were down on last year partly due to the unfavourable weather pattern earlier in the year

Entries in the Schools’ Section were well up on last year, the judge being inundated by numerous entries in the colouring and collages classes.

The Club wishes to acknowledge the support given by the following businesses in providing prizes:- B&Q, Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick; Bali-Hai Nursery, Carnlough; Samore Plant Centre, Martinstown; Slemish Market Garden, Ballymena; James McNeill, Broughshane; Montrose Garden Supply Company, Ballymena, and Ben Vista Nursery, Ahoghill.

WINNERS

Daffodil Classes

B&Q voucher for the best daffodil bloom in the Show: Derrick Turbitt.

Guy Wilson Memorial Cup together with a voucher presented by Coleman’s Garden Centre, Templepatrick, awarded for twelve varieties of daffodil, one stem of each, selected from at least three Divisions: Richard McCaw.

Laughlin Cup together with a voucher presented by James McNeill, Broughshane, awarded for a collection of six varieties, three stems of each selected from at least three Divisions: Robbie Curry.

Creighton Cup together with a prize presented by Ballymena Garden Club awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Single Bloom Classes: David Pinkerton.

Christina McCleary Cup together with a voucher presented by Bali-Hai Nursery, Carnlough, awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Miniature and Special Daffodil Classes: Nial Watson.

Northern Ireland Daffodil Group Silver Thread Award for the best exhibit of 3 vases of daffodils, 3 flowers in each vase covering at least 3 divisions: Robbie Curry.

Crawford Cup together with a voucher presented by Samore Plant Centre, Martinstown, awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Amateur Senior Collection Classes: Richard McCaw.

Frazer Cup together with a voucher presented by Montrose Garden Supply Company, Ballymena, awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Amateur Senior Single Bloom Classes: Maurice Kerr.

Martin Cup together with a voucher presented by Bali-Hai Nursery, Carnlough, awarded to the exhibitor with the highest points in the Novice Classes: Denise Wallace.

Thirkettle Shield awarded to the exhibitor, aged up to 16 years, for the best bloom: Jamie Knox

BEST BLOOM AWARDS

Best Bloom – Division 1: George Wilson; Best Bloom – Division 2: Richard McCaw; Best Bloom – Division 3: Derrick Turbitt; Best Bloom – Division 4: Nial Watson; Best Bloom – Division 6: Richard McCaw; Best Bloom – Any other Division: Richard McCaw; Best Bloom – Seedling: Derrick Turbitt.

MISCELLANEOUS CLASSES

Slemish Market Garden voucher awarded for the highest points in Pot Plant Classes: Elizabeth Boyd

Montrose Garden Supply Company voucher awarded for the highest points in the Cut Flowers and Flowering Shrubs Classes: Elizabeth Boyd.

Rathowen Cup together with a voucher presented by B&Q, Ballymena, awarded for the highest points in the Cacti and Succulents Classes: Frank Herbison.

FLORAL ART CLASSES

Slemish Bowl together with a voucher presented by Ben Vista Nursery, Ahoghill, for the highest points in the Women’s Institute Classes: Mary Knox (Broughshane WI)

Woburn Abbey Flower School Trophy together with a prize presented by Ballymena Garden Club in memory of Mrs May Matthews for the highest points in the Open Section: Heather Hume.

J E Losty Trophy together with a voucher presented by Ben Vista Nursery, Ahoghill, for the highest points in the Intermediate Section: Moyra Mills.

David McClelland Trophy awarded for the highest points in the Novice Section: Maureen Baw/Jean Orr.

Prizes presented by Mrs Mavis Speers for winners of each class in the Novice Section: Class L1: Coleen Hamill; Class L2: Jean Orr.

Silver Salver presented by Ballymena Floral Art Society awarded for the best use of garden material in the Open, Intermediate and Novice Sections: Mamie Greer

Schools and Young Persons Classes

Miniature trophies awarded to the winners of each of the following classes: Colouring competition: Poppy Millar (Broughshane PS); Collage using coloured paper on any aspect of nature: Adam Cunningham (Broughshane PS); Mustard or cress grown in an unusual container: Brandon Bamber (Ballykeel PS); Miniature garden: Adele Herron (Broughshane PS); Photograph to illustrate the theme, “Spring Flowers”: Demi Armstrong (Broughshane PS).