The unseasonal weather wiped out the entire maiden section and reduced entries by 50 per cent at the 73rd annual show held in St Michael’s Parish Church Hall at the weekend.

Secretary Mr Stuart Jackson said: “Hopefully it is just a one-off and I believe it is down to the global warming effect.

“The hot weather in October brought on the blooms too soon and resulted in our annual entry of around 180 dropping to just 90 vases.

“With our show being one of the last of the season we have suffered most although other local shows have also been hit,” he added.

For the second year running Mr Peter Fawcett took top honours at the show with a vase of nine Fairweather blooms.

In addition to the A. D. Cotton Salver for best in show and the National Chrysanthemum Society Medal, Mr Fawcett from Cleckheaton also gained the Norman Sutcliffe trophy for a vase of nine blooms and Harry Costello salver for the best vase of incurved blooms.

Mr John Swift of Sowerby Bridge won the Harwood Trophy for most points in the open section and also received the National Chrysanthemum Society Bronze Medal for runner up in show.

He also gained the Erringden Salver for best vase of decorative blooms, the Thomas Ashton Trophy for three vases of three blooms, three distinct varieties and the Glen Royd Trophy for five reflexed decorative blooms.

The Jim Boocock Salver for best vase of incurved blooms (3b or c) went to Mr Peter Robinson and J. Rushton gained the Bill Maude Salver for best vase of single blooms.

Ironically entries were up by 10 in the floral art section and the Hubbard Trophy for best exhibit went to Mrs A. Sowerbutts for “My Favourite Story” design which also won the Burnlee Trophy and the Mytholmroyd Chrysanthemum Society’s diploma.

Mr Clive Gregory gained the Edgar Thornber Trophy for most points in the section and the St Michael’s Trophy for “Musical Memories”.

The Ada Walmsley Trophy for an “Up,up and Away” design went to Mrs C. Moyse and Mrs D. Bentley was awarded the Yorkshire Ridings Trophy for her “By Meadow and Stream” exhibit.

The show was officially opened by local Methodist minister Rev Tony Buglass who also presented the prizes. The judges were Mr Don Barnes and Mrs S. Harrison (floral art).

Results

Open section.

Five exhibition incurves: 1, J. Swift; 2, P. H. Robinson; 3, P. Wilkinson.

Seven exhibition incurves: 1,P. Fawcett; 2, J. Swift.

Five intermediate decoratives: 1, T. Stanley.

Five intermediate decoratives (5b) : 1, J. Swift.

Five reflexed decoratives: 1, J. Swift; 2, T. Stanley.

Seven large singles: 1, P. Fawcett; 2, T. Stanley.

Seven medium singles, one variety: 1 and 2 P. Wilkinson; 3, J. Rushton.

Seven medium singles, mixed: 1, T. Stanley.

Nine Chrysanthemums: 1, P. Fawcett; 2, J. Swift.

Seven anemone blooms: 1, and 2, P. Wilkinson.

Three vases, three blooms in vase, three varieties: 1, J. swift; 2, P. Fawcett; 3, P.