THE 190th Taunton Flower Show was hailed a great success by the organisers.

The 'Chelsea of the West' in Vivary Park on Friday and Saturday attracted thousands of visitors as it returned to its home for the first time in three years.

Perfect dry weather along with an attractive programme of entertainment and gifted gardeners showcasing their talents combined to enthral the crowds.

Show chairman Nigel Handbury said: "We are delighted that so many visitors decided to enjoy the many attractions on offer."

This year’s highlights proved to be the stunning designer gardens with Julie Haylock taking top prize and the Western Daily Press Cup for her ‘Time to Reflect’ Garden and Sally Leaney winning the People’s Choice award for her beautiful Sanctuary Garden.

PICTURE GALLERY: For photos click HERE.

In the arena, Jonathan Marshall wowed crowds with his magnificent horse Amadeus and his fantastic display, while Xtreme Stunt team and Meirion Owen brought excitement with their entertaining shows.

The diversity of music and arena entertainment drew praise from the wide spectrum of visitors with contributions from the Grey Dogs Jazz band to Steel the Show, a local steel band based in the Blackdown Hills.

The Liberty Sisters brought their amazing voices and style to the Festival Village area with the vintage truck stage.

The competition tent was a riot of colour, scent and tastes, while the neighbouring floral tent showcased stunning displays by professional traders including Monkton Elm Garden centre who won the praise of judges and viewers alike with their beautiful tribute to the Bellmans, who founded the Garden Centre more than 40 years ago.

Pimp a patio, incorporating the challenge to teams of two gardeners willing to create a modest garden scene in just one hour, proved popular.

Built on the success of the Ready, Steady, Garden! competition created especially for Taunton Flower Show by BBC Gardener of the Decade Kath Crouch, four teams competed over two days, with Saturday's competition giving the young people a chance to compete.

Plans are already underway for the 2023 show and details of the programme of attractions and competition themes will appear on the show’s website in the coming months at tauntonfs.co.uk. Businesses interested in sponsoring sections of the event and adults wishing to volunteer their services in return for free admission are encouraged to make contact with the organisers quickly.

Here's a list of all the cup winners - and for full competition results click HERE.

 

CUP WINNERS.

DIVISION 1 Display Classes.

The ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S BANKSIAN MEDAL Pat Carter, Individual winner of the most prize money in the horticultural classes 102 to 434.

The CRITTALL WARMLIFE CUP Pat Carter Exhibitor gaining the most points in the whole schedule of classes 102 to 1132.

The SAMPSON MEMORIAL TROPHY The Allomenters Smeatharpe Best exhibit in class 101, Club Growing and Showing.

The LES PRING MEMORIAL CUP Rodney Loader Awarded to the winner of class 102, Taunton Flower Show Master Gardener.

DIVISION 2 Flowers and Pot Plants.

The FRED PAULL MEMORIAL CUP Mark Wilding Best exhibit in class 205, Three pots of zonal pelargoniums.

The H. S. HARE CUP Ivor Mace Best exhibit in class 279, 1 vase of 12 blooms.

The F C SPEAR CUP Rodney Loader Exhibitor gaining the most points in Division 2 (Cut flowers and pot plants).

The S. J. FARLEY MEMORIAL CUP Neil Duncan Exhibitor gaining the most points in classes 226 to 290 (Cut flowers).

British National Carnation Society Gold Medal Card-Carnation Ivor Mace Awarded in the winner of class 279 - Carnation Championship.

DIVISION 3 Fruit and Vegetables.

The TAUNTON PERPETUAL CUP Andy Ryall Exhibitor gaining the most points in classes 353 to 370 (Fruit).

The ILTON CUP Pat Carter Exhibitor gaining the most points in classes 301 to 352 (Vegetables).

DIVISION 4 Novice Gardeners.

The TOM NASH PERPETUAL TROPHY Graham Edwards Exhibitor gaining the most points in Division 4, Novice vegetables and flowers.

FRED LEAMON PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP Graham Edwards To the winner of class 401, "From My Garden".

DIVISION 5 Cookery and Preserves, Textile Art and Crafts.

The CARTER CUP Lydeard St Lawrence WI Institute or Guild winning class 527 (the WI Class).

The LAKELAND CUP Christine Pitman To the winner of the Cookery Championship class, class 501.

The SECRETARY'S CUP Suzy Denner To the winner of the Craft Championship class, class 520.

The MOUNTFIELD FRUIT FARM CUP Annie Nunn To the winner of the Preserves Championship class, class 513.

The F C BENNETT MEMORIAL TROPHY Lucy Barfoot Individual exhibitor with the most points in classes 521 to 546, textile and non-textile art and craft classes.

Mr Miles Tea Room Perpetual Plate Vivien Lloyd To the winner of class 502, "Master Breadmaker".

DIVISION 7 Photography.

The PORTER-DODSON PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE CUP Sue Tilleray Winner of class 708, Photography Challenge.

The SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTE TROPHY Rosemary Arscott Individual exhibitor with the most points in classes 701 to 707, photography.

DIVISION 8 Floral Art and Floristry.

The WESTERN PROVIDENT ASSOCIATION TROPHY Taunton Flower Club Best exhibit in class 801, group floral art class.

The GOODLAND CUP Betty Buxton Best exhibit in class 802, a floral art pedestal exhibit.

The E W BRICE MEMORIAL TROPHY Maggi Hall Best exhibit in class 803, floral art.

The FREDERICK & FLORENCE GILL MEMORIAL ROSEBOWL June Bale Best exhibit in class 808, a petite floral art exhibit.

The H SAMUEL PERPETUAL TROPHY Jackie Crouch Exhibitor gaining the most points in classes 802 to 814, floral art.

Bridgwater College Cup Jane Horsey Awarded to the winner of class 815 - floristry.

DIVISION 10 Young People.

The LEN MEUX MEMORIAL TROPHY Cara Deacon Best exhibit in class 1006, a display of foliage.

The CAREW FISHER CUP Annie Williams Best exhibit in class 1021 (Rainbow Guides only).

The MRS GAY PENNY CUP Cara Deacon Best exhibit in class 1007, A collection of herbs.

The DOROTHY BOND BROWNIE TROPHY Imogen Wood Best exhibit in class 1022, for the best exhibit by a Brownie.

The TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEA Millie Shopland Awarded to the winner of class 1051.

GROUP Floral Marquee.

The BILL CRIDLAND MEMORIAL TROPHY Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee.

The TOM GREEN MEMORIAL PLATE Coach House Cacti Best display by a nursery or specialist society stand in the floral Marquee.

GROUP Outdoor Traders.

JIM HARNELL TROPHY D W Waterscapes Best non-horticultural Trade Stand other than in the Floral Marquee.

BEGGARS ROOST PLANTS CUP Millwood Plants Best Horticultural Trade Stand other than in the Floral Marquee.

GROUP Bellman Trophy.

THE BELLMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY Mike's Hostas Presented for horticulural excellence. Presented to Taunton Flower Show in 2022 by the Bellman family.

GROUP Designer Gardens.

WESTERN DAILY PRESS CUP Julie Haylock, Sandhurst Garden Design Best show garden.

GROUP Ready Steady Garden.

The CANN CUP Yuliia Kozhyna and Iryna Beliak Winner of Ready Steady GARDEN on Friday morning.

GROUP Vegetables.

The CHARLES CLIFFORD ALLEN PERPETUAL CUP Clare Barrington Best exhibit in classes 301 to 304, 311, 312, 321, 353 to 356 (Collections).

The ASHFORDS CUP Ivor Mace Awarded for the best horticultural exhibit in divisions 1 to 4 by an individual exhibitor.

GROUP Flowers and Pot Plants.

The BLACKTHORN TROPHY Ivor Mace Best exhibit in classes 103 to 106, display classes.

The MARKS & SPENCER CUP Michael Salter Best exhibit in classes 220 to 225, specimen cacti.

The W. R. MAYNARD MEMORIAL TROPHY Pat Carter Best exhibit in classes 201 to 219, excluding class 205 (Pot plants).

The EDNA WEBBER PERPETUAL CHALLENGE BOWL William C Bennett Best exhibit in classes 227 to 229 (Gladioli).

The F. W. PENNY MEMORIAL TROPHY Ivor Mace Best exhibit in classes 226 to 290 (Cut flowers).

The National Dahlia Society Silver Medal Neil Hatch For the best exhibit in dahlia classes.

National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal Neil Hatch Awarded in the dahlia classes, at the Judges' discretion.

GROUP Roses.

The ALEXANDER CUP Ivor Mace Best exhibit in class 259 to 274, the rose classes.

The Rose Society Bronze Medal Mr David Bryant Awarded for the best HT rose in the show.

GROUP Fine Art.

Fine Art Judges' Choice Hester Mortimore For the best exhibit in classes 601 to 612. £25 awarded. Cash prize only.

GROUP Photography.

Porter Dodson Special Prize Dawn Mahoney Best photograph in classes 701-707.

Porter Dodson Special Prize-Children Cara Deacon Best Photograph in division 10, childrens photography.

GROUP Floral Art.

The FOXWELL CUP Mary Scriven Best exhibit in classes 802 to 814, floral art.

The WILLIAMS CUP June Bale Awarded for the best use of foliage in any class.

The DODD BOWL Fleur White Judges' choice for the most innovative design in floral art design.

GROUP Young People Floral Art.

The BINDLEY TROPHY Adeline Howe Best exhibit in classes 1008 to 1014, children's floral art.

County Flowers Cup Jools Holdsworth Best Exhibit in Classes 1001 to 1005 (Fun with flowers).

GROUP Young People Craft.

CHILDREN'S UNDER 11 SHIELD Karl Allcorn Best exhibit in classes 1015-1042 in the under-11 age group.

CHILDREN'S UNDER 17 SHIELD Lily Bisiker Best exhibit in classes 1015-1042 in the under-17 age group.

Pre-school Arts and Crafts Aisling O'Malley Awarded to the best exhibit in the pre-school children's classes.

Under 8s Arts and Crafts Rowan Ardren Best exhibit in the young peeoples craft classes, 1015 to 1042 in the under 8s age group.

GROUP Young People Cookery.

CHILDRENS COOKERY CUP Beatrix Fox Best exhibit in cookery classes 1043-1046.

GROUP Wine.

TAUNTON WINEMAKERS CHALLENGE CUP Ian Wright Best exhibit in division 11.