Saturday 24th August 2019. Temperatures soared. Visitors thronged the streets of Largs. The queue of cars for the Millport Ferries stretched for hundreds of metres and it was the day of Largs Horticultural Society’s Annual Flower Show..

The heavy rains and unusually high temperatures of recent weeks had caused the number of potential exhibits to dwindle. Therefore the organisers were surprised and delighted to see the quantity compare favourably with previous years. And, as usual, the expected high standards were maintained. Visitors were treated to a colourful spectacle of flowers , pot plants and vegetables. Community Gardens/Allotment Organisations competed for the I Taylor sponsored class with baskets of produce. The Floral Art exhibits reflected great skills in artistic talent and imagination. Also on show were mouth-watering displays of home-baking, including a special Decorated Cake class sponsored by West Coast Cakes and displays of Hobbies and Crafts. Budding talent was also in evidence in the variety of exhibits in the Schools and Junior sections, which included this year’s Haylie Stores Nursery/Early Years sponsored class of little wildlife gardens in windows boxes.

Other attractions included the tea-room with home baking and filled rolls, a hands-on workshop for children given by members of Largs Flower Club. Visitors also had the opportunity to taste home grown tomatoes, buy some plants and could spend a pound or two for the chance to win the extensive range of prizes in the Raffle and Tombola stalls or purchase some home-made tablet, scented bees-wax candles, home-made pot pourri or try some home-made lemonade. Largs Viking Festival gave information about the festival and had festival souvenirs for sale.

The main prize-winner was local gardener Christine Hitter who carried home the Royal Bank of Scotland Quaich for most points overall and also three other trophies. Dave King from Saltcoats was awarded the prize for Best Exhibit in Show for the second year running. His three superb carrots drew admiring comments from judges and visitors alike.

The Horticultural Society would like to thank all the people who gave up their time on the day and throughout the year to make the Show a success and to the local shops, businesses and individuals who made generous donations.

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

Largs Challenge Trophy and Blue Ribbon - Best Exhibit in the Show and Northfield Cup – Most Points in Vegetables - David King.

John Scott Smith Cup – Most Points Begonias - Bill Anderson.

Alexander McKay Cup for Most Points in Cut Flowers, Fairweather Cup – Best Exhibit of 12 Roses and Ian Halbert Sponsorship – Best display of Roses on a Stand - Etta Strachan.

Lord Inverclyde Cup for 3 Vases of Sweet Peas - Ian Halbert.

Robert Frazer Cup for Most Points in Carnations – Ian Dippie.

Albert Stone Cup for Most Points in Dahlias – Ian Halbert, Davie Fisher and Etta Strachan.

Mrs Jane B Ross Cup for Most Points in Decorative – Anne French.

George D Philip Cup for Most Points in Hobbies & Crafts – Katrina McBlain.

Joyce Dunlop Trophy for Best Exhibit Tapestry – Christine Delussey.

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

JUNIOR SECTION

Royal Bank of Scotland Junior Quaich – Most Points in Junior Section, Society Shields for 8-11 years and Junior Hobbies & Crafts - Erin Connick.

Society Shield for 7 years and under - Tara Moran.

Society Shield for 12-16 years - Aliya Hitter.

The Largs Flower Club Junior Decorative Cup for Best Exhibit in Junior Decorative – Amelia Church.

Largs Viking Festival Cup for Best Exhibit in Largs Viking Festival Class – Erin Connick, 2nd – Ailish Rae.

Cardwell Garden Centre Challenge Trophy for Schools – Largs Primary/St Mary’s, 2nd – Skelmorlie Primary.

SPECIAL SPONSORED CLASSES FOR 2019

West Coast Cakes Bake–Off - A Decorated Cake - Katrina McBlain, 2nd - Christine Swainbank, 3rd - Pip Stirrat

Nursery/Early Years Class sponsored by Haylie Stores - 3 years Early Years, Largs Campus, 2nd - 4 years Early Years, Largs Campus.

Allotment/Community Garden Challenge sponsored by I Taylor - 3 Towns Growers, 2nd - Cumbrae Community Gardens, 3rd - Organic Growers of Fairlie.