Spring Challenge Competition 2016 - or "We're Really, Really Sorry, Teddy"

Daffodils Galore!
Our tables were groaning under the number of entries.

Our April meeting saw our annual Spring Challenge Competition, against our friends at Godstone Gardeners'.  The venue of this event alternates each year between The White Hart Barn in Godstone, and St Agatha's in Hurst Green.  This year it was our turn to host the event in what we knew would be a hard fought competition, as we were defending a run of two consecutive wins, and Godstone wanted to deny us a hat-trick.  At stake was the Challenge prize, Teddy.

Avid followers of the blog may have noticed that last year, when we won, a congratulatory post was put up within a single day, but that this year three weeks (or more - Ed) have passed.  Although this was in fact due to our tardiness in posting last month's meeting (and we couldn't get the articles out of sync), and not due to any reluctance in publishing the result, I can confirm the suspicions of those who were not present; we did in fact lose this year, and poor old Teddy has had to pack his bags.  However, the competition was very closely fought, with the final score coming in at 67 to Godstone, and 61 to Hurst Green - a respectable result all round.  We do have to say that Godstone thoroughly deserved their win (Ouch!  That hurt! - Ed)

Pots of daffodils

However, the loss was not as painful as expected, as this was - at least in show terms - a terrific, terrific success.  While we knew that the Dictator - sorry Chair - of Godstone, Sylvia Pocock, was determined to win in this, her last year in charge, and while we knew that she would be massing her troops for the offensive, we were still very surprised (and gratified) at the turnout from both clubs.  Normally, being on home ground would be a distinct advantage, but it soon became clear that Godstone were arriving en masse.  Rumours that Sylvia "had a little list" and that anyone not turning up and exhibiting would be dragged at dawn from their house and shot on Godstone Green were denied - but possibly only the punishment, not the existence of the list!

Miniature Daffs - the shot glasses are on probation.  Comments welcome!

Anyway, as we have said many times, any competition or show such as this can only be as good as its exhibitors, and in this case you all did us proud, regardless of the Club that you came from.  I think it fair to say that we have not seen a Spring Competition like it for many years - one advantage of the turnout was that there was a commensurate increase in the number of exhibits, all of which were of good quality - including the daffodils.  There had been much concern that the daffodils would all be over and that there would be little to exhibit, to the degree that one club member asked whether the event was likely to be cancelled; as you can see from the photographs, this was not the case at all.  In fact, owing to the unfortunate fact that we could not use the normal show tables (as you may remember, the tablecloths were scoffed by rats in the store last year), and we had to rely on the limited number of tables in the main building, the displays were actually overcrowded, with the Show Secretary and Stewards having to resort to putting larger pots under the tables in order to bring them out during judging - there was a point of near panic as we fretted over how more space could be made.  This does not normally happen at shows any more, anywhere in the country, and it is a pleasure for the Committee to organise a show that was so honestly spectacular. I think that we can all agree that this was a special evening, regardless of who actually won or lost.  Our thanks also to Brian Knight and Paul Grimmer, our judges, who were faced with a daunting task with so many entries to choose from!

Tulip pots - exploding from the space, there may
be an argument for resricting the size next year, if only to
reduce the chance of a hernia!

As well as being a formal show and competition, this evening is also a great social occasion, with a chance to meet and chat to gardeners from another club that you often would never have a chance to talk to otherwise.  As it was our turn to host, it was also our turn to supply food and nibbles for the occasion.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to the food table, and also to the raffle (which seemed to go on interminably, there were so many prizes on offer - I know, I had to call out the numbers - Ed).  We also provided an apple punch which seemed to be popular - many members asked for the recipe, and it is simply 1 litre of apple juice (fresh, not longlife, which is horrible in a punch), 1 litre of ginger ale (not beer), a squirt of lemon juice and a splash of grenadine for a touch of colour (the alcoholic version of grenadine is also fine, but we used the kiddie non-alcoholic version so that you didn't crash on the way home).

Flowering spring pots.

We can thank you little more than to say that we have received a number of lovely letters from Godstone Gardeners thanking us for the hospitality, and commenting on how memorable and wonderful a show it was.  So "Thank You" to all, Godstone and Hurst Green alike, who came along, showed their blooms, and contributed to the atmosphere and the pleasure of it all.

All that remains is to say a hearty farewell to Teddy, who begged us not to send him to live in Sylvia's house for a whole year, but had to pack his bags and leave anyway, no doubt sobbing his little heart out all the way.  We're so, so sorry, Teddy, for making you move; after so long away from Godstone, we have heard that there may even be ... cuddles! May we see you back with us again, very, very soon!

Baskets on the theme of "Spring Flowers".  Note to all for
next year - there is in fact a size restriction, although the judges
and show secretary decided not to declare any entries
"Not According To Schedule".  The winner (and many others)
was gorgeous, but very, very oversize!

And finally, vases of spring flowers.  Just look at those tables -
exhibitors, thank you and stand up proud!