70th show is hailed a blooming success

Milestone for the annual horticultural event

ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY show was a vintage one for Burbage Gardening Club (BGC).

The open show held in Hastings High School attracted more than 650 entries from more than 100 adult exhibitors, with no fewer than 120 dahlias vying for top spot in the annually hotly contested BGC Dahlia Championship.

Children’s classes featured more than 100 entries from just 18 youngsters.

All entries were opened to public viewing at the end of judging and donations from visitors raised nearly £268 for Leicestershire and Rutland Children’s Air Ambulance service.

Trophies were awarded to class winners by Dave Andrews, presenter and producer of BBC Radio Leicester’s Down To Earth Sunday gardening programme.

Children’s cups were awarded to Zade Hextall, Spencer Law, Clayton Law, Ruben Mellor, Harry Gamble, Alex Gamble, Lucy Gamble, Oliver Wynne and Matthew Wynne.

Adult cups were won by Christine Godfrey, Judy Hextall, Linda Caswell, Sharon Miles, Mac Walker, Ian Hextall, Dave Baggott, Terry Leach, Lesley Gardner, Phil Burgess, Judy Buckell, Alan Baker, Graham Holt, June Farmer and Barbara Fletcher.

Terry Leach from Whet- stone won the BGC Annual Challenge Tray for gaining the most points in the whole show.

Phil Burgess from Stoke Golding won the WL Randall Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best exhibit in show.

Peter Clubb from Bir- mingham won the Bill Greenaway Annual Tankard for the dahlia championship and Tom Upton from Wolvey won the

RHS Banksian Medal for the largest total of points in the horticultural classes.

BGC show committee spokesman Bob Gwynn said: “The club would like to thank all of the exhibitors who supported the show and also all of the local businesses who sponsored classes, provided raffle prizes or advertised in the schedule, as without them there would be no show.”

Next year’s show will be held on Saturday August 19, again at Hastings High School.

Burbage Gardening Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Burbage Constitutional Club and hosts speakers on a range of horticultural subjects.

Membership costs £10 per year or visitors are welcome, on payment of £2 for each meeting they attend.

To find out more visit www.burbagegardeningclub.org.uk