A NEW venue has been hailed a success as Middleton-in-Teesdale Garden Association hosted its first show in three years.
The chrysanthemum and vegetable show, which started in 1941, has found a home in a variety of venues over the decades starting off in the Wesleyan Chapel schoolroom.
For the past 50 years the event was staged in the village hall, however, with no repairs or improvements to the aging venue organisers felt it was time to move to a new location. Their decision to host the 79th annual event at the village’s Sports and Social Club was hailed a success by exhibitors and public.
Chairwoman Liz Beadle said: “It’s been three years since we last met and a complete change of venue for us.
“I remember in 1968 showing for the first time in the Wesleyan Chapel Schoolroom that is now the Pathway. In the early seventies we arrived at the village hall, but I would like to say thank you to the committee at the Sports and Social Club for accommodating us.”
She thanked exhibitors, judges and members of the public for their support as well as that from the business community for their continued help in providing raffle prizes.
Prior to the traditional fundraising auction of produce trophies were handed out by long-time show supporters Christine and Nigel Mitchell.
Show secretary Anth Coatsworth almost swept the board with his exhibits, picking up no fewer than eight awards, including the coveted Middleton Football Club trophy for best chrysanthemum.
He said: “As a new venue it has gone really well and have had a lot of positive comments and it has been well supported. We have had about the same number exhibiting, but we have had quite a few people through the doors to take a look.”
Mr Coatsworth also won the Silver Cup for most vegetable points and the Sinclair Cup for best vegetable exhibit.
Veteran flower grower John Grey, who has been exhibiting for 40 years, picked up the trophy for best three incurved chrysanthemums.
Meanwhile, Ken Ebdon was awarded the Harry Ebdon trophy for the best three onions grown from sets for the second show in a row.
He was also awarded the Cassell Consultancy Rose bowl for his super-sized marrow, which weighed in at 33lbs.
He said: “I just planted them [marrows] and they struggled a bit and they were nothing until September, but then they just grew and grew.”
June Kneller won the Davis Silver Cup for most points in floral arrangement classes. Meanwhile Mary Elliott picked up her first trophy after ten years of trying, winning the Mrs PD Wearmouth silver cup for most points in the produce classes.
Margaret Raine won the Mrs AM Sayer crystal bowl for best exhibit in the produce classes.
In the craft section, June Dent won the Mrs K Teward silver cup for most points in the handicrafts.
In the photography section, Elizabeth Beach won the Middleton Cricket Club cup for most points with Pam Phillips winning the Sandy Dempster cup for best exhibit.
In the children’s classes sisters Skye and Florrie Crawford were both winners picking up the Corner Shop cup for exhibitor with the most points and Mrs K Teward trophy for best exhibit respectively.
The Mrs M Lawson trophy for best handwriting was won by Jessie and Lucas won the Mrs K Teward Trophy for best painting.
