High 'grade' skills at annual autumn show: PICTURES

The rain of the previous week had abated into a warm, sunny, day for the village to appreciate their showcase of flowers, vegetables, cookery and crafts.

More than 820 exhibits were displayed by 124 entrants. Competition was tight as they vied for 26 trophies, 14 best in section winners and a separate prize for best exhibit from each school year.

The Rev Deidre Mckrill opened the event and had the difficult task of choosing the best exhibit in show, which was awarded to Lucy Green with a pen and ink design for the Grade Ruan Gazette front cover.

Lucy was also awarded the prize for most points in show for a person younger than 16 and the best in section for a 12 to 16 year old. She also received the Mr D Julian cash prize for the most points received by a Grade Ruan parish child, Mathew Price taking the boys’ equivalent of this.

Vegetable growing enthusiasts had a particular treat with carrots, parsnips and leeks reaching up to 4ft, onions weighing over 5lb, as well as cabbages and pumpkins of notable size.

David Endean came out on top of this, winning the Frank Skewes Cup for most points in vegetables by a Grade Ruan parishioner. His flower displays were also highly rated; within this class he won the best in section alongside the C J Trewin Cup for most points in the flower classes, as well as the most points in floral art classes.

These resulted in him holding the Grant Hart Cup for the most points in flowers by a Grade Ruan parishioner.

Clarence Thomas took the trophies for the most points in show and the most points across the flower and vegetable classes, including the best in vegetable section.

The best exhibit in fuchsia and rose classes was won by Audrey Mundy. Doug Stevens received the second C J Trewin cup with the most points in fruit classes.

The Dr and Mrs P Cuff Cup for the best collection of herbs was awarded to Tom Christophers. The Helston & District Floral Art Society Cup for best exhibit in class 30 went to Beryl Cullen.

Sally Watts received two trophies, the June Curtin Cup for the most points in preserve classes and the Mrs Brierly Goblet for most points in cookery by a Grade Ruan parishioner. The Cookery Cup for most points in cookery classes was awarded to Mandy Pound.

The Ruby Carter Trophy for best exhibit in cookery classes went to Pam Penrose, who also won the best in cookery section. The under 18s version of the best exhibit in cookery classes, the Dr J Wilks Cup, went to Chloe Price. The prize for the most points in farm produce, the J C Trewin Cup, was won by John Bosustow. Loretta Ruse took the Tony Girling Cup for the most points in handicraft classes 123-144.

Simon Bradley took home two awards, the Mrs Jill London Trophy for the most points in classes 123-162 by a Grade Ruan parishioner, as well as the Arthur Carter Cup for the most points in photography by a Grade Ruan parishioner.

The best exhibit in needlework, knitting and crochet, the Grade Ruan WI Cup, was awarded to Nicola Parkman who also received the best in needlework section award. Lauren Birchmore received both the Francis Trewin Cups, the first for the most points in photography in the under 18s category, the second for the best under 18s photography exhibit. A third award was also given to Lauren for the best in the photography section.

Within the schools, the JF Bosustow Perpetual Trophy for the most points in Grade Ruan School pupil classes 170 to 187, went to Chloe Price. In each school year the best exhibit was received by Sky Stone in reception, Sophie Jane in year one, Rose Tonks in year two, Esme Harman in year three, Jack Tyler Street in year four, Poppy Gilbert in year five and Chloe Hardy in year six.

The remaining prizes for the best in sections went to Beryl Cullen for her floral art, Francesca Gluck for her fruit, Elizabeth Endean for her preserves, Neil Rowe for his farm produce, Catherine Bird for her knitting and crochet, Peter Jane for his arts and crafts, Chloe Price for the age group eight to 11 year olds and Ailin Brickhill for the children up to seven years old.