Entries for this year’s Doddington horticultural show were slightly down across a number of classes - but the flower section flourished with more displays than ever.

Cambs Times: Doddington Horticultural Show. 91 year old Albert Short with his onion.Picture: Steve Williams.Doddington Horticultural Show. 91 year old Albert Short with his onion.Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Doddington Horticultural Society’s 68th annual show was held the Village Hall on Saturday, when local GP Dr Liz Mather from the village medical centre was on hand to present the prizes.

Overall entries dropped from 789 to 754, with the adult section five down on 2014 and the children’s entries down by 30.

The main falls were the cookery and preserves and adult art sections.

“Although we have had unpredictable weather, it did not have too much of an effect on the vegetable, fruit and flower sections, in fact, the Flower section increased from 67 to 110 entries this year,” explained Lyne Green, secretary.

“It was very pleasing to find the children’s section maintaining a high level of entries again. Unfortunately, it was disappointing that we only had three children enter in the under 4s and we were down from 164 entries to 36 in the 5 to 7 years age group, this may be partly due to the children moving into the next group as this went from 72 last year to 168 this year.

“We hope that next year there will be more youngsters in the lower age groups bringing along their crafts.The Show is open to all the local schools and we would have great pleasure in seeing more young people involved at next year’s Show on Saturday July 25 2015. Let us hope that next year the weather is kinder to us on the day as it was very hot and humid and there were less people at the actual Show.”

Judges were: Fruit and Vegetable Section - Mr J Overvoorde of Doddington: Flowers - Mr G Frost of March : Cookery and Preserves – Mrs Townsin and Mrs Higgs of Sutton: Handicrafts - Mrs Linda Storey of March: Adult Art and D Children’s Sections – Mr Cheale of March, and Floral Art – Mr John Richmond of Wisbech.

The main raffle prize of £50 was won by Isabelle Moye. Draw was run by Catherine Owen and Agnes Stefankiewicz. There were about 30 other prizes. The Cake was won by Agnes Stefankiewicz, draw run by the Guides, made by Amanda Lawrence and kindly donated by Jane Archer. Sweet basket was won by Lyne Green; draw was run by Rosemary Clarke with the help of the Guides. Bottle of Whisky was run by Rosemary Clarke and the Guides, won by Julie Hope and donated by Mr Albert Short.

Refreshments were served by Jackie Lomax, Elaine Emmett and Jane Groves. All cakes were home cooked and donated by Jackie Lomax. Tombola stall was donated by Committee, and run by Mrs Betty Payne and Mrs Pauline Lawrence. Donation bucket at the door by Eleanor Barber.

Trophy winners were: Short Family Shield for Vegetable Section – Mr Michael Spiers: Best Vegetable in Section donated by The Dack Family and won by Mr Chris Savill for his onions; C.R Clarke Annual Memorial Shield for Fruit Section – C. Savill; Don Hipkin Cup for Flower Section – Christine Beart; The Watson Family Cup for Best Flower in Show – Christine Beart; John Yorke Annual Memorial Cup for Vase of Sweet Peas – Roy Davis; Payne Family Shield for Hybrid Tea Rose – Christine Beart: Eric Mason Memorial Cup for Bowl of Roses – Christine Beart; Bester Annual Memorial Cup for Best Fuchsia –Roy Davis; Elmore Family Shield for Floral Art Section – Sally Cross; Ellington/Bamford Challenge Cup for Adult Art Section – Margaret Billimore; Home Guard Shield for Cookery and Preserves Section – Anthea Hart; Best in Cookery Section donated in the memory of Mary Jackson and won by Linda Snell; Archer Shield for Handicrafts Section – Doreen Davis; Emma Ellington Annual Memorial Cup for Best Needlework Article – Sarah-Jane Gill; Green Family Cup for Top Girl 4 years and under – Annabelle Patching; Spiers Family Cup for Top Boy 4 years and under – Jayden Richards; The Nikey Robinson Cup for Best in Section 4 years and under – Annabelle Patching: Primrose Cup (Welsh Family Annual Challenge Cup) for Top Girl 5 to7 years – Emily Holland; Boyden Family Annual Challenge Cup for Top Boy 5 to7 years – no entries; Southon Family Annual Memorial Cup for Best in Section 5 to 7 years – Emily Holland; Aubrey and Doris Negus Cup for Top Girl 8 to 11 years – Kaitlin Holland; Jackson Annual Memorial Cup for Top Boy 8 to 11 years - Nicholas Hope; Fenland Citizen Cup for Best in Section 8 to 11 years – Miles Whittaker; Geoffrey Harper Shield for Top Girl 12 to 16 years – Emilie Short; Edwards Shield for Top Boy 12 to 16 years – Ross Groves; Fenland Citizen Cup for Best in Section 12 to 16 years – Ross Groves; Irene Short Memorial Cup for Best Vegetable Sculpture in Children’s Sections was won by Ross Groves; Bill and Olive Dickerson Shield for adult with most points in Show – Michael Spiers; Emmett Family Shield for Child with most points in Show – Emily Holland.