ENTRIES were up at the annual Hexhamshire Leek Club Show on Saturday, with 55 of the 61 members benching leeks.

An unusually dry start and rainy end to the growing season didn’t catch out gardeners, who arrived at Whitley Chapel Parish Hall with an abundance of home-grown produce.

Over 100 classes attracted 481 entries from adults and 152 from children, mainly pupils at Whitley Chapel First School.

“To fit in with this year’s curriculum, the children’s classes had a Roman theme in addition to animals,” said club secretary John Henderson.

“Youngsters from the school obviously also have green fingers, as they won the Dodwell Brothers Trophy for the best single leek for the under 18s.”

The battle for the coveted best pair of leeks was won by Elizabeth Wood, who has been a member of the leek club for over 50 years.

The trophy for the best single leek went to Nigel Robson, who would have been in the running for the top prize had one of his leeks not measured slightly over the mandatory six inches to the tight button.

Winner of the Barney Knaggs Trophy for the most points gained in the fruit and vegetable classes was Matthew Henson.

And the Mrs Alexander Blackhall rose bowl for most points in the industrial classes was taken home by Fiona Scott.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Children. Hexham WI Trophy for under 18 photography: Dan Southern. Leek Club Cup for best handwriting age six to seven: Lewis Holden. R. D. Ward Cup for best handwriting age eight: Tristan Simms. Hexham Courant Shield for best news article: Charlie Clark. Farmway Challenge Cup for poetry: Daniel Bradley. Carrs Billington Cup for art age eight to nine years: Sam Nicholl. Leek Club Cup for art age six to seven years: Ruby Blenkarn. Leek Club Cup for art age four to five years: Zack Dickins. Leek Club Cup for an animal mask six years and under: Lola Horsey. Leek Club Cup for an animal mask age seven to nine: Lewis Holden. Adrian Arnold Cup for a minature garden age six years and under: Lola Horsey. Adrian Arnold Cup for miniature garden age seven to nine years: Sam Nicholl. Shire Shield for best overall exhibit: Charlie Clark. Dodwell Brothers Cup for best single leek under 18 years: Whitley Chapel First School.

Adults. The Presidents' Cup for best single leek: Nigel Robson. Bernard Baxter Quaich for best pair of leeks: Elizabeth Wood. New Members Trophy for best leek: Francesca Lilley. The Barney Knaggs Trophy for most points in the fruit and veg classes (and £20 Voucher from Rickerbys): Matthew Henson. The Allan Hull Memorial Trophy for best single exhibit in the fruit and veg classes: Susan Atkinson. Mrs Alexander Blackhall Rosebowl for most points in industrial classes: Fiona Scott. The J. S. Hubbuck Trophy for best hay: Trevor Golightly. BOCM Pauls Cup for best sloe gin: Derek Hull. Leek Club Trophy for best photograph: Jenny Stirling. Shire Trophy for best single photograph: Jenny Stirling. Denise Baxter Challenge Trophy for best art exhibit: Rosie Finch. Mary Lee Trophy plus £10 voucher for best flower exhibit: Fiona Scott. The Dotland Trophy for best craft exhibit: Sam Golightly. £10 voucher for best industrial exhibit: Fiona Scott. Voucher for poetry: Jean Gordon. Midway Cup for middle position leeks: Michael Atkinson.