Largs and District Horticultural Society held their annual Flower Show on Saturday 25th August in the Dunn Memorial Hall of St John's Church.

Growing conditions have been extreme this year, a cold winter and spring, followed by hot sunny weather in June and July. Therefore it was a pleasant surprise to see both the quality and quantity of exhibits compare favourably with recent years . On a sunny Saturday visitors to the show were treated to a colourful spectacle of flowers , pot plants and vegetables. Also on show were mouth- watering displays of home-baking and displays of Hobbies and Crafts. The Floral Art exhibits reflected great skills in artistic talent and imagination. Budding talent was also in evidence in the variety of exhibits in the Schools and Junior sections.

Other attractions included the Tearoom with coffee , tea and more home baking and a hands-on workshop given by members of Largs Flower Club. Visitors also had the opportunity to taste home grown cucumbers and tomatoes and to receive advice on growing fuschias.

The main prize winner was local gardener Christine Hitter who carried home the Royal Bank of Scotland Quaich for most points overall and also four other trophies. The organisers were pleased to see the number of new members exhibiting for the first time and one of them – Dave King from Saltcoats was awarded the prize for Best Exhibit in Show. His three superb carrots drew admiring comments from judges and visitors alike.

Thanks to all the people who have worked throughout the year to make the Show a success and to the local shops and businesses who made generous donations. Special thanks to Kelburn Windfarm Community Trust and to Largs Rotary Club.

PRIZE WINNERS

Overall winner of the show – Mrs Christine Hitter who won 5 cups:
John W Hunter Cup for the Overall Winner of the Show
Royal Bank of Scotland Quaich for Most Points in the Show
Lord MacAndrew Cup for most Points Pot Plants
Harry Bacon Cup for Most Points in Fuchsias
John Scott Smith Cup for Most Points in Begonias

Blue Ribbon and Largs Challenge Trophy winner of Best in Show was Mr David King with his entry of "3 Carrots (other than long)". He also won the Northfield Cup for Most Points in Vegetables.

Alexander McKay Cup for Most Points in Cut Flowers and Lord Inverclyde Cup for 3 Vases of Sweet Peas - Ian Halbert.

Fairweather Cup for Best Exhibit of 12 Roses and Ian Halbert Sponsorship for Best Display of Roses on a Stand - Mrs Etta Strachan.

William Murray Cup for Best Vase of 6 Roses – Mr Jim Welsh.

Society Top Vase winner – Kay Winton.

Robert Frazer Cup for Most Points in Carnations – Mr Robert McIlvar.

Albert Stone Cup for Most Points in Dahlias – Mrs Joyce Taylor.

Society Top Tray – Mr John Hitter.

Jean George Novice Trophy for Flower Arranging for Novice Decorative - Mrs Hilary Moran.

Mrs Jane B Ross Cup for Most Points in Decorative – Mrs Brenda Johnstone.

George D Philip Cup for Most Points in Hobbies & Crafts – Miss Angela Crighton.

Joyce Dunlop Trophy for Best Exhibit Tapestry – Christine Delussey.

Mrs Agnes Neeson Cup for Most Points in Baking – Mrs Eileen Welsh.

JUNIOR SECTION

Royal Bank of Scotland Junior Quaich for Most Point in Junior Section and winner of the Junior Hobbies and Crafts section shield - Aliya Hitter.

Society Shield for 7 years and under joint winners - Tara Moran and Ruth Linton.

Society Shield for 8-11 years – Lexi Brown

Society Shield for 12-16 years - Alyssa Hitter

The new Largs Flower Club Junior Decorative Cup for Best Exhibit in Junior Decorative – Rebecca Jackson

Largs Viking Festival Cup for Best Exhibit in Largs Viking Festival Class "Make a Model Viking" – Ailish Rae, 2nd – Lexi Brown, 3rd - Molly Brown

Cardwell Garden Centre Challenge Trophy for Schools – Largs Primary School. They took up the "My School Patio Container" challenge set by Largs Horticultural Society who had provided the raw materials with a guide of - "be creative". They also won with their collage "Sustaining Our World".