THE arrival of spring was celebrated in Ramsbottom with the annual flower show.

And organisers of Ramsbottom Horticultural Society certainly experienced the sweet smell of success on Sunday as more exhibits were on display compared to last year.

Mr Keith McCarren, who was presiding over the event -- his first in his new capacity as the society's show secretary, said: "It was a good show. There were 50 more exhibits on display this year than the spring show last year. It seems as if the sunshine brought people out of their homes."

The number of exhibits were up from 246 last year to 296 on the day and the number of exhibitors increased from 29 last year to 33.

Mr McCarren said "The weather was also responsible for some truly beautiful spring flowers particularly the daffodils. The other exhibits were of a high standard. As well as the regular exhibitors we had a few new faces on the day."

Prizes were presented by Mr McCarren's predecessor, Mr Ronald Smith who retired as show secretary last year.

RESULTS

DAFFODILS: Master Class, K. Capper; One trumpet, P. King; One long cup, A.J. Bracegirdle; One short cup, G. Steele; One double daffodil, A.J. Bracegirdle; One stem, three trumpet and three long cup, G. Steele; Three long cup and three short cup, A.J. Bracegirdle; Three stem, P. King; Five trumpet A.J. Bracegirdle; Five long cup, N. Roscow; Five short cup, A.J. Bracegirdle; Three vases, one daffodil per vase, N. Roscow and one container N. Roscow; One basket, A.J. Bracegirdle.

AWARDS: Special Prize - Highest points, A.J. Bracegirdle; Daffodil Society Bronze Medal & Certificate, best exhibit of daffodils, K. Capper; Daffodil Society Diploma,-best bloom of daffodil, P. King.

DAFFODILS - NOVICE: One specimen yellow, One specimen white, One specimen with two or more colours in the flower, One specimen stem with two or more blooms, I. Read.

Awards: Daffodil Society Diploma - best bloom by novice and highest points by novice I Read.

GENERAL CLASSES: One specimen flower other than a daffodil, A. Bracegirdle; One container of flowers other than daffodils as grown, G. Steele; One pot containing a flower auriculal, P. King; One green foliage pot plant, C.L.. Tweedale; One variegated foliage pot plant, N. Roscow; One flowering pot plant, G. Steele; One kind of vegetable, J. Tyson; Best exhibit in General Section, G. Steele.

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS: One specimen cactus plant, S. Kearns; One specimen succulent plant, A. Bracegirdle; Special prize - best exhibit of cacti and succulents, S. Kearns.

FLOWER ARRANGING:

Joys of Spring, S. Magnall; New Life, A. McDonald; Novice Class, J. Rowland; Best exhibit for flower arranging, S. Magnall.

HANDICRAFTS: Sewing, Hand knitting or crochet, Needlework, Soft toy, B. Garvey; Painting/drawing, S. Rougham; Any other handicraft, B. Garvey; Trophy - best exhibit in handicraft, S. Rougham.

EGGS: Three brown hen, Three tinted hen and Three distinct colour hen, S. Kearns; Three distinct colour hen or bantam eggs, N. Horrocks. or bantam, N. Horrocks; Three tinted bantam, Three any other colour bantam, N.. Horrocks; One hen egg supreme, S. Kearns; One bantam egg supreme, N. Horrocks; One hen egg contents, S. Kearns; One bamtam egg contents, S. Kearns; Three water fowl eggs and and one water fowl egg, J. Tyson; Trophy - best exhibit of eggs, S. Kearns. Trophy - best exhibit of eggs, S. Kearns.

CONFECTIONERY: One jar jam, M. Smith, Fruit pie, A. Bracegirdle; Shortbread biscuits, N. Williams; Date & walnut cake, D. Ellis; Victoria sandwich, A. Bracegirdle; Six small plain cakes, N. Williams; Six small fancy cakes, I. Reed; Trophy - best exhibit of confectionery, A. Bracegirdle.

JUNIOR CLASSES: Vase of three daffodils, K. Marno; Decorated hard boiled egg, J. Duckworth; Animal or figure made from flower or vegetable and An imaginary garden or country scene, S. Duckworth; Four small iced buns and Four fancy and decorated biscuits, S. Duckworth; Marno Cup - highest points in junior classes and the Special prize Easter Egg - best exhibit in Junior Classes, S. Duckworth.

WINES: One bottle of sweet white wine and One bottle of dry white wine, H. Fairley; One bottle of sweet red or ruby wine, K. Whittles, One bottle of dry red wine, H. Fairley; One bottle of rose wine, G. Ashworth; Trophy - best exhibit of wine, H. Fairley.