JUDGES had a tough time examining more than 650 exhibits at this year’s Cotherstone Flower and Vegetable Show.
Classes ranged from the highly competitive flower and vegetables sections to baking, preserves, photography, art and craft, and flower arranging.
Michael Hedley, fresh from successful exhibits at Layburn Show and Reeth Shows in the same week where he won a bronze from the National Dahlia Society, dominated the day, taking away 12 trophies on the day.
He said it had been a difficult growing season because of a dry June followed by a wet July.
He added: “Things have been running late this year, everything is about a month behind.”
Chris Rowell took the Secretary’s Cup for the Best Exhibit in Show title with a unique sculpture of wading birds using old golf clubs and gimlets.
Little Joe Coulson, with help from his sister Annie, secured the Lacelands Challenge Cup for most points in the children’s section as well as the Kennedy Trophy for the tortoise they created using a lettuce, courgette and cucumber.
Trophy winners
Michael Hedley: Tankard, Ramsey Cup, Lathbury Cup, Julia Whitburn Cup, Nan Hamilton Memorial Vase, Trevor Darke Award, Oughtred Wodencroft Trophy
Tankard, Joe Watson Shield, Frank and Olwen Bainbridge Plate, Harry and Dorothy Siswick Shield, Jim and Dreda Forster Perpetual Trophy.
Barry Watson: The Bill Nixon Rose Bowl, A Thorn Shield
Jill Jeanes: W S Hodgson & Co Ltd Shield.
David Atkinson: Bellwood and Hinchcliffe Trophy.
Dot Hedley: Wilf Raine Cup, Lingford Cup, Whitburn Trophy, Ladies Cup, Dorothy and Allen Christon Vase.
Roy Siswick: Peggy Nixon Rose Bowl.
Taff Johnson: Rose Bowl.
Judith Barnett: WI Cup.
Muriel Lamb: Hannah Iceton Rose Bowl.
Pete Coulson: Gentleman’s Cup.
Viv Dinning: Coronation Cup.
Richard Sparrow: Robert Johnstone Memorial Trophy, The Glen View Bowl.
Peter Wilcox: Teesdale Cup.
Susan Addison: Cotherstone Plate, The Weatherby House Bowl.
Dot Hedley & Helen Johnstone: Nancy Pleasants Trophy.
Joe Coulson: Lancelands Challenge Cup, Kennedy Trophy.
Audrey Siswick: Mrs EM Thomas Cup.
Chris Rowell: Kelvin Thompson Cup, Secretary’s Cup.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
