A bright sunny day welcomed the entrants and visitors to the Autumn show of the Winchester Horticultural Society.

The event was held over three halls in the Community Centre at Badger Farm and in total there were 232 entries from 27 members and others which filled the halls with the colours, scents and glowing produce of late summer gardens.

Judge Mark Ekin, commented on the excellence of the flowers adding that it was a difficult choice to deciding the winners.

A special commendation went to Christopher Geary for his entry in the children's section. It was hoped his entry would encouarge other youngsters to enter future shows.

Mrs Blake judging Floral Art and Chris Knight, judging Home Craft, commended the high standard of the entries.

Margaret Hyalt thanked all those whose hard work had made the day such a success, whether behind the scenes or by competing.

The award winners were:

Northbrook Cup for chrysanthemums, George Cousins Cup for other flowers - J. Keenleyside; Northlands Challenge Cup for dahlias - G. Geary; Arthur Veare Memorial Cup for fruit - J. Saunders; Sir Hardman Lever Cup for onions, Ashburton Challenge Cup for vegetables, W. P. Richardson Challenge Bowl best veg. collection - T. Hyatt; Ashburton Runners Up Cup for vegetables - J. Saunders; Mrs M. Pope Bowl - B. Ashley; Lady Lever Coronation Bowl for floral art - L. Cole;

WHS Novice Shield - most points novice hort. classes - D. Billimore, E. Tallack, J. Wigginton; Banksian Medal - excl. 1999 and 2000 winners- most money hort. Classes, Best Hort. Exhibit in Show - T. Hyatt; Best Floral Art Exhibit in Show M. Hyatt; Bill and Irene Crooks Trophy - hanging basket judged in situ- J. Allen; Hampshire Chronicle Ladies Cup - home crafts, spring plus autumn - E. Tallack.

Section winners: Gill Geary and Jim Keenleyside for chrysanthemums; Gill Geary, Tom Hyatt, and John Saunders for various dahlias; Tom Hyatt, Brian Allen, Jim Keenleyside, Myrtle Cunningham, Olive Francis, John Saunders, Stewart Godding, Elva Tallack for other flowers; Edmund Hodgkinson for novice flowers; John Saunders, Paul Russell, Max Francis and Brian Allen for various fruits; Tom Hyatt, Stuart Godding, Edmund Hodgkinson, John Saunders, Elva Tallack, Doris Billimore, Dennis Fendick and John Wigginton for various vegetables; Novelty vegetables - largest pumpkin. Max Francis; most unusually shaped vegetable and longest runner bean - Tom Hyatt; Flower by a child under 13 - Christopher Geary; Photographs - Barbara Ashley and Edmund Hodgkinson; Floral Art - Margaret Hyatt, Lin Cole and Elizabeth Ponting; Home Craft - Elva Tallack, Wendy Hodgkinson. Barbara Ashley, Marjorie Wells and Avril Speirs.