FROM ‘Florarama’ to beautifully crafted chairs, there were several new additions to this year’s show flower tent.

As the clock struck three, entrants to this year’s competitions gathered, along with a large crowd, all eager to discover who had received those coveted cups.

President, once again, was Liz Hodgson. She welcomed visitors and said a few words before handing over to the show president’s wife, Pat Whitaker, to present the trophies.

Liz said: “Thank you to all exhibitors who have given up all their time and money to make these excellent displays — I think you will all agree it is looking wonderful in here.”

The winner of the ‘Florarama’ competition, a new addition this year, was Yvonne Phillips, from Bude, who was delighted to have won such a well-fought competition.

She said: “We each gave £15 towards the event, this paid for all the materials. At around 3pm we all went to sit at a desk and were given one hour and 15 minutes to create a floral display from whatever was in our individual black bags.

“Everyone had the same thing in the bags and we were only allowed to bring our own florists tape and scissors. We then all opened our black bags — none of us had a single clue what was going to be in there — and began.”

She said a lot of the ideas are similar, and the displays all look like they are related to one another but ‘with that they all look different’. She added: “They all have the same components. I can see people looking at them thinking ‘what the devil?’ They are all the same but in actual fact each of us had our own ideas and interpretations of how we wanted to display it so they are in fact completely different.”

She said there were some difficulties with the event: “The biggest problem we each faced was knowing whether a flower needed to be stood in water or not, because that can completely change a design. You also want to make sure the flowers are going to last, at least until the end of the show, which can be quite tricky to balance.”

Yvonne concluded: “It was a real measure of each person’s creativity as you have to not let what anyone else around you is doing influence your own design. I think everyone did a fantastic job and I am quite shocked I won.”

Representing the younger generation in the tent was Liz’s grandaughter Amy Hodgson, aged 14, from Bude.

She was pleased to be carrying on the family tradition of flower arranging and was delighted to have won the Barbara Pearson cup for floral art, especially as she was up against the adult’s class. She said: “I was very please. I entered into the adult’s class ‘Citrus Delights’. There were about ten or 12 entrants, all adults, except me and I can’t believe I won against them — I am so proud.”

Amy also came first in the junior class and her creative mask came second. She said she most enjoys the competition side of things and just having fun at the show.

She explained why she got into flower arranging and competing: “My Nan runs the flower tent and she always wanted me to do it. I think I probably started when I was six years old and am now 14 and haven’t given it up. I enjoy everything really, it is a good show. I was also proud that my Nan did really well too — we are a flower family!”

Another new class in this year’s tent was the ‘Sitting Pretty’ class, where flower arrangers had to create a design around a handmade or bought chair.

The entries were stunning and drew a lot of attention from visitors. Joan Trewin from Bude said she was surprised she had won as she was disappointed she hadn’t had time to make her own chair like a few of her competitors. She said: “This is a new class and we haven’t had it before so you never know how it’s going to go.

“I would have really liked to have made my own chair but time didn’t allow it so I ended up finding one in an antique/second hand shop that I liked and worked with that. I removed the seat and put florists wire in its place and wanted the flowers to look almost like they had taken root in the chair.”

Joan said she was particularly pleased with the way the different textures she had been able to use worked in the overall look. She added: “I really love the colours I was able to get too, especially the gloriosa — it is such an unusual looking plant but I think it worked really well.”

Joan said: “I really didn’t think I would win, I was sure Pat Boundy or Liz Hodgson’s homemade chairs were going to come first, but you never know what the judges are looking for. I think the standard this year though has been fantastic, everyone has put a lot of effort in.”