It was a bumper year for Helston Harvest Fair Horticultural and Craft Show, with more than 800 entries – an increase of 200 on last year.
Sunday’s show took place inside the Old Cattle Market, with sections for flowers, fruit and vegetables, cookery, handicrafts, photography, floral art and classes just for children.
The big winners on the day included Sophie Osborne, who not only won the cup for most points in the 12 to 16 years classes but also most points in the children’s section and in the whole show as well.
It was a day for the youngsters, with Millie Harris winning most prize cards.
The best exhibit in the show is chosen each year by Pauline Eddy, who this time presented the Freeman Donald Eddy Memorial Cup, in memory of her late husband, to Gillian Benner for her Hedychium Gardnerianum (ginger lily).
Some of the most talked about exhibits included a model of the Blue Anchor pub that opened to reveal the inside, and a piece of needlework that reflected some of the most talked about posts on the Helston Facebook page this year – from the abandoned chickens in the Sunken Garden, to whether people are allowed to pick bluebells for Flora Day. It won its creator Julia Baumber the cup for best exhibit in the section.
Joint organiser John Boase told those gathered that entries numbers for 2024 had returned to what they were before the Covid pandemic, before putting out a plea for help.
Currently just four people put on the show each year and he said they were in desperate need of help from more volunteers in the run up to it, or it risked not being able to continue. Anyone who can offer a few hours of support can call John or Nicola Boase on 01326 573200.
Mayor Miles Kenchington reiterated the call for help, as well as congratulating those who had entered for the time and effort that went into their entries.
Results: Flowers – best pot plant, Nicola Boase; best flower, Gillian Benner; best blooms, Alan Kettle; best dahlias, Zoe Trerise; most points, Louis Williams. Fruit and vegetables – best vegetables, John Phillips; best fruit, Garth Pascoe; most points, Ron Williams. Home produce – best jams and preserves, Kay Kemp; best cookery, Hayley Orchard; most points, Kay Kemp. Handicrafts – best needlework, Julie Baumber; best art, Beverley Williams; most points, Kirsty Morgan. Children’s classes – most points under five, Jowan Davis; runner up, Harry Morgan; most points five to seven years, Mikey Osborne; runner up, Henry Goldbourn; most points eight to 11 years, Imogen Goldbourn; runner up Lillian Blight; most points 12 to 16 years, Sophie Osborne; best youth cookery, Florence Davis; best youth photography, Lillian Blight; most points in section, Sophie Osborne; second, Millie Harris; third, Lillian Blight and Jowan Davis. Wines and beers – best wine, Chris Willey; best liqueur, Nicola Boase; best gin, John Boase; most points, Chris Willey. Photography – best exhibit in categories, Rosemary Didlick; best exhibit any subject, Alan Kettle; most points, Rosemary Didlick. Floral art – best exhibit, Paula Julian; most points, Pat Thomas and Paula Julian. Additional trophies – most prize cards in show, Millie Harris; most points in show, Sophie Osborne; best in show, Gillian Geer (ginger lily).
See more photos in the gallery at the top of the page.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here