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It was our Village Show today, and after just spectating last year I decided to take the plunge and enter a few classes. I didn't grow anything specially for it, just looked round to see what was ready and suitable, and ransacked the 'Preserves' cupboard & did a bit of baking for the Baking & Handicrafts section.
I worked hard yesterday, harvest & cleaning up the veg, and baking & decorating cakes. It was a late night, by the time I got finished and everything packed into boxes with plastic bags etc for padding it was about 1.00am. I went off to bed and set the alarm for 8am - everything had to be staged by 11.15. So, imagine my face when I woke up this morning and realised I'd somehow slept in 'til 10.10am!!
Managed to be out of the house by 10.25, but gosh I felt dreadful!
Got to the Village Hall to find it a hive of activity, with trestle tables set up outside for the Dahlia & Crysanth exhibitors to groom their blooms on, and people wandering around with the hugest onions etc. I staggered in with my box of stuff and went to register with the Show Secretary who took my entry form & money and gave me a stack of tickets with my Exhibitor Number on to place next to each entry, all nicely anonymous. Within half an hour, I had set up the following entries;
Vegetable Section
Tastiest Tomatoes, Cherry - Sungold, Millefleur
Tastiest Tomatoes, Standard - Bloody Butcher
Plate 5 Tomatoes - Shirley
A Vegetable Marrow
3 Onions Dressed from Sets - Red Emperor (Learnt lots about how to stage onions, could have done much better with these)
Baking & Handicrafts Section
A Decorated Chocolate Cake
A Victoria Sponge
Jar of Jam or Jelly - 2 entries, Strawberry Jam, Bramble Jelly
Jar of Chutney - Earthbabe's Special Green Tom Chutney
We had to leave the hall at 11.30 for judging and had to come back when the show opened to the public at 2.30 to see who'd won what. I was glad to get back home - I felt like a stinker of a migraine was hovering in the wings, so a couple of painkillers, plenty of water and a small lunch headed it off before the vice tightened. The we all jumped in the car to head back to the Hall. I was fairly sure, after seeing the standard of entries, that my veg wouldn't be winning any prizes - some of our local plot-holders show at the big shows like Harrogate & Southport, one even beating Medwyn Williams last year. But I thought I had a chance in the Tastiest Tomatoes, and the baking section, so I was hopeful going back into the hall of seeing maybe one card.
I was totally gobsmacked, and over the moon to see;
Strawberry Jam - First Prize
Jar of Chutney - Third Prize
Decorated Chocolate Cake - First Prize AND Best Exhibit in the Section!
Wow!! My veg had come nowhere, but honestly, against that competition, I couldn't be disappointed, and it hasn't put me off trying again next year
At the end of the Show, in the Trophy giving bit, I got called to the front and was given a medal & shook hands with the representative of the National Vegetable Society & the W.I. lady who judged the Baking section, and got a whole £12 in prize money.
What a day...
I worked hard yesterday, harvest & cleaning up the veg, and baking & decorating cakes. It was a late night, by the time I got finished and everything packed into boxes with plastic bags etc for padding it was about 1.00am. I went off to bed and set the alarm for 8am - everything had to be staged by 11.15. So, imagine my face when I woke up this morning and realised I'd somehow slept in 'til 10.10am!!
Managed to be out of the house by 10.25, but gosh I felt dreadful!Got to the Village Hall to find it a hive of activity, with trestle tables set up outside for the Dahlia & Crysanth exhibitors to groom their blooms on, and people wandering around with the hugest onions etc. I staggered in with my box of stuff and went to register with the Show Secretary who took my entry form & money and gave me a stack of tickets with my Exhibitor Number on to place next to each entry, all nicely anonymous. Within half an hour, I had set up the following entries;
Vegetable Section
Tastiest Tomatoes, Cherry - Sungold, Millefleur
Tastiest Tomatoes, Standard - Bloody Butcher
Plate 5 Tomatoes - Shirley
A Vegetable Marrow
3 Onions Dressed from Sets - Red Emperor (Learnt lots about how to stage onions, could have done much better with these)
Baking & Handicrafts Section
A Decorated Chocolate Cake
A Victoria Sponge
Jar of Jam or Jelly - 2 entries, Strawberry Jam, Bramble Jelly
Jar of Chutney - Earthbabe's Special Green Tom Chutney
We had to leave the hall at 11.30 for judging and had to come back when the show opened to the public at 2.30 to see who'd won what. I was glad to get back home - I felt like a stinker of a migraine was hovering in the wings, so a couple of painkillers, plenty of water and a small lunch headed it off before the vice tightened. The we all jumped in the car to head back to the Hall. I was fairly sure, after seeing the standard of entries, that my veg wouldn't be winning any prizes - some of our local plot-holders show at the big shows like Harrogate & Southport, one even beating Medwyn Williams last year. But I thought I had a chance in the Tastiest Tomatoes, and the baking section, so I was hopeful going back into the hall of seeing maybe one card.
I was totally gobsmacked, and over the moon to see;
Strawberry Jam - First Prize
Jar of Chutney - Third Prize
Decorated Chocolate Cake - First Prize AND Best Exhibit in the Section!
Wow!! My veg had come nowhere, but honestly, against that competition, I couldn't be disappointed, and it hasn't put me off trying again next year
At the end of the Show, in the Trophy giving bit, I got called to the front and was given a medal & shook hands with the representative of the National Vegetable Society & the W.I. lady who judged the Baking section, and got a whole £12 in prize money.
What a day...
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