Last weekend’s Rye annual fruit and vegetable show (Saturday August 20) provided an opportunity to see some very impressive pumpkins, cucumbers and other creative arts.
This year there were 209 entries from 35 exhibitors, about the same as last year but the fruit and vegetable categories were particularly well represented.
Following the decision earlier this year by the Iden and Playden garden society to close, Rye has been fortunate enough to “inherit” some of the trophies so the spirit of their organisation lives on!
The results of the show are as follows:
| Category Winners | Won by |
| Fruit and vegetables | Nigel Jennings |
| Flower and foliage | Nigel Jennings |
| Cookery | Pat Wightwick |
| Handicraft | Anthony Chambers / Helena Hudd |
| Photography | Lorna Hall |
| Overall winner of the show | Pat Wightwick |
| Cup Winners | |
| Banksian Medal * | Pat Wightwick |
| Turk Trophy | Nigel Jennings |
| Butterfield Cup. Awarded for the best Victoria Sponge | Pauline Vickery |
| Ivy Say Cup. Awarded to the best photograph decided by public vote | Lorna Hall |
| The Mary Grace Osbourne Cup awarded for the best houseplant | Pat Wightwick |
| Tate Trophy awarded to the best exhibit in the fruit and veg classes | Laurence Hudd for his onions |
| The Festival Challenge Bowl, awarded to the overall winner of the show | Pat Wightwick |
*The Banksian Medal is awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society to the entrant with the highest overall points score in the Horticultural Classes.
Helena Hudd, who organised the event and helped present the prizes said: ” As ever I am hugely grateful to the businesses of Rye who place adverts in our schedule and sponsor categories, and of course to the residents of Rye and surrounding areas who put in the time and effort to produce the entries. Thanks, too, to the judges, Luke, from the Fish Café and the RHS judges and also to Rye Allotments Association Committee for their assistance in running the show and of course to the Ladies of Landgate WI for providing delicious refreshments”.
The prizes were presented by the Mayor, Jonathan Breeds.
Photo: Kenneth Bird