It has been a difficult year for gardeners everywhere, and those in Egmanton with thoughts of entering the annual show were pleased to see a little rain towards the end of August to bring their crops to maturity. Unfortunately, the heavier bursts resulted in a lot of windfalls and battered flowers, so it was amazing to see such a wonderful display at the village’s 25th annual Craft and Produce Show.
When the doors opened, the display tables soon filled with entries of all kinds. The knitted class dominated the general view from early on with a large blanket hung on the wall and an entire knitted farmyard beneath it. Unsurprisingly, these two entries were later judged joint winners. The garden produce and flowers lined the walls and occupied more space than ever before. They gave way to the craft classes, which are always an unknown quantity as the sizes of the individual entries varies so much. This year, in addition to the large blanket, there was a shawl displayed on a tailor’s dummy.
In the centre of the Hall were the cookery and preserves classes which boasted some tasty looking cakes. The photography class had attracted a good entry of good quality work this year and was in danger of outgrowing its table. When the doors closed to entries, there were a total of 261 including some impressive weeds displayed outside by the entrance.
The overall quality of the entries was very good. There were some lovely apples and a bumper entry of tomatoes. It seems to have been a good year for fruit as there was a great display, including some bunches of juicy looking grapes. The harvest basket class was introduced recently and the variety and quality of the different produce in them is quite staggering.
The most outstanding flower entry was a beautiful vase of mixed flowers, while Jackie Whall took the certificate for the most outstanding item in the craft classes with a superb picture she had drawn of her young grandson.
The Whall family will need a new shelf to accommodate all the trophies they took home as, in addition to Jackie’s craft trophy, Richard was particularly successful.
Prizes were presented by Councillor Sylvia Michael. The younger children were delighted with their prize envelopes containing small monetary prizes. Rebecca Lee was particularly congratulated for entering the junior classes in her final qualifying year, and also entering some of the adult craft classes, where she did very well, winning one and placing in others.
The trophy winners were:
- Vegetables. (Hunt Trophy): Richard Whall
- Fruit & Vegetables: Richard Whall
- Flowers & Floral Art: Georgina Batty
- Cookery & Preserves: Elizabeth Banks
- Most Outstanding Craft: Jackie WhallViolet Cup: Richard Whall
- Harvest Basket Trophy: Richard Whall
- Photography: Joy Allison
- Teenagers’ Cash Award: Rebecca Lee
- Egmanton Cup (seven to 12 years): Efren Outram-Tate
- Children’s Shield (under seven years): Albin Outram-Tate
This 25th show took place a little after the 25th anniversary of the first as Covid caused the cancellation of the 2020 event. The first show was the brainchild of Elizabeth Banks and she has been the driving force behind all the succeeding events. Village Hall Chairman, John Bower thanked her for all her years of service and presented her with a certificate of recognition from the Hall Committee.
The 26th Show will take place on Saturday 5th September 2026.