Hook shows off its horticultural, baking, photography and craft achievements

Hook Community Centre was a visual feast of horticultural and craft excellence yesterday (Sunday 8^th September). Hundreds of competitors and visitors packed the main hall to cast a discerning eye over the entries in this year’s Hook Flower and Produce Show and to hear the results of the Hook In Bloom competition 2019.

County Councillor, Jonathan Glen, presented rosettes to the show winners and certificates and trophies to the Hook in Bloom winners, commenting, “This show is a great community event in the village and the quality of the show and the exhibits reflects the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone involved, from the organisers, exhibitors and visitors.”

Visitors commented on the array of fantastic vegetables, flowers, craft exhibits, photos, cakes and other delicious baking exhibits. Despite the uncertain weather this year it was wonderful to see so many exhibits and to find gardens that bloomed and looked wonderful in the village.

Maggie Kirtley in Goose Green walked away with the best front garden award, with her abundance of flowering baskets, pots and borders, and Carol Warren from Vetch Field displayed the best hanging basket with a good shape and variety of plants.

As ever, Hook’s pubs put on fantastic displays, with The Crooked and The Hogget taking the prizes. It was a hard decision and in the end the Worlock Trophy for the Best Hotel, Restaurant or Pub went to The Crooked Billet and the Hook Parish Council Trophy for the Most Attractive Business Premises was awarded to The Hogget.

When it came to the Hook Cross Trophy for the Best Allotment, despite the weather making allotment gardening difficult this year, John Hughes was declared the winner because his plot stood out as a weed free haven, with huge vegetables, especially the onions, plus a good use of his whole plot.

The runners up were, Pete Nicholls and Jennifer Bowtle, who as newcomers had done an excellent job in taking on an abandoned plot and turning it around in half a season.

The new Best in Show Trophy for the flower and produce show went to Ian Youngs as he had the most first and placed entries.

The full list of winners is:

The Tesco Trophy for the Most Attractive Front Garden:

Maggie Kirtley

9 Goose Green

Highly Commended Front Garden Category:

John Minshall

19 Hunts Close

 The Batten Trophy for the Best Residential Hanging Basket:

Carol Warren

3 Vetch Field

Highly Commended Hanging Basket Category:

Dean Kirk

27 Watlington

 The Hook Parish Council Trophy for the Most Attractive Business Premises:

Laura Faulkner, The Hogget

 The Worlock Trophy for the Best Hotel, Restaurant or Pub:

Richard Sanders, Crooked Billet

The Hook Cross Trophy for the Best Allotment:

John Hughes, Plots 22b&c

 Allotment Category – Best Newcomers:

Pete Nicholls and Jennifer Bowtle, Plot 51b

Best in Show

Ian Youngs

“The Flower & Produce Show becomes more popular each year,” says Hook in Bloom project leader Sue Hinton. “It is a wonderful community event. We were slightly concerned about a week ago whether we would have enough for a show and then the entries came pouring in from super gardeners, crafters, bakers and photographers, so we ended up with more entries than ever.

“We also raised money for next year’s show and project by holding our annual tombola, selling books and other fundraising activity, plus the super tea room which is sponsored by Tesco.

“Well done to everyone who took part in the village’s gardening competitions,” continued Sue. “It is fantastic see so many people getting involved. It’s also wonderful seeing Hook villagers working together to make the Hook In Bloom project as a whole such a success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed their time over these past months. The dedication and commitment of our volunteers means we are able to hold a superb show for the whole village, see Hook blooming so well and be in a position to sustain it into the future.”

Hook in Bloom is a volunteer run initiative, which encompasses village planting, the Hook In Bloom gardening competition and the Hook Flower & Produce Show. The project this year has received support from Tesco, Hook Parish Council, Hook Village Halls Charitable Association, Hampshire County Council, Hart District Council, de Jager Bulbs Hortus Loci horticultural company and Hook Allotments Association.

ENDS

For more information please contact Sue Hinton – email sue@dshpr.co.uk or 01256 763753.