WATCH out Southport we've a show to rival yours! That was the claim made by organisers of one Brierfield and Reedley's best ever shows.

The 73rd annual flower and homecrafts show at Walter Street Primary School, Brierfield, attracted 80 per cent more entries.

Chairman Jack Burgess said: "This has been one of the best shows we have ever had. We have been overwhelmed by the amount of flowers that have been put in and we have had a lot of hard work for the judges to do because of the amount of entries and the high quality.

"Entries in the children's classes were excellent because we have close links with the school."

The new Millennium was represented in flower form in the floral art section and even the eclipse did not escape a mention with a special eclipse card entered in the greetings card section of handicrafts.

Monster 4ft leeks were joined by a superb set of gigantic onions and there was a good crop of beetroot on show.

Organisers thanked the school and also the army cadets who helped to set the tables out for the exhibits.

This year the photography classes were reintroduced, which proved to be a popular decision attracting more than 220 entries. Secretary David Nowell said: "We were lucky that we had good weather in July for growing which came just at the right time for our show. Exhibitors always get a warm welcome here and we are grateful for all their hard work because that is what makes the show a success."

RESULTS

Trophy winners: Senior citizens' trophy, Mrs I Snelgrove; Kathleen Burgess trophy, Mrs L Hinton; R McManus memorial trophy , Mrs L Hinton; J E Pilling trophy, Mrs B Holden; Mary Walton dahlia cup, Mr A Greenwood; Brierfield Tunstill memorial, Mr A Murphy; Dr H C Palin trophy, Mrs B Cottam; W J and A Green trophy, Mr R Barker; Dunkirk Veterans shield, Mrs S Redfern; Ada Fraser Hardy trophy, Mr R Barker; Sid Shore memorial trophy, Mr R Barker; A Rowley memorial trophy, Mr D Clamp; Richard Guest cup, Mrs E Atkinson; Chairman's trophy, Mr A Greenwood; Garden News shield, Mr B Lambshead; W M Jeffrey cup, Mr G Atkinson; Vegetable gardener cup, Mr T W Hinton; Jack Burgess cup, Mr T Scott; T Clemmy and D Brown trophy, Mr W Bollard; Tom Hargreaves trophy, Mr G Atkinson; Secretary's cup, Mr W Bollard; Wine maker of the year trophy, Mrs D Cottam; Champion cup, Mrs D Cottam; W H Oddie trophy, Mrs R Lawson; Robert and Evelyn Brown trophy, Mr J Smith; Mr K Tunnacliffe trophy, Tim Monteath; Brierfield and Reedley Rotary trophy, Mrs M Wilson; Ladies' Committee cup, Mrs D Chadwick; Nelson Leader trophy, Miss S Wright; Reliable Building Services trophy, Miss H Wallace; Kathleen Sumner-Clough trophy, Reedley junior school; Brierfield and Reedley Horticultural Society photography trophy, Mrs L Mezzo; Reedley Hallows Parish Council, Mrs D Muldowney. Class winners: Floral art: Millennium, Mrs A Thorpe; rainbow, Mrs L Hinton; celebration, Mrs L Hinton; summer holiday, Mrs P Varley; Dried or silk flower exhibit, Mrs L Hinton; miniature, Mrs L Hinton; sweet posy, Miss E Burgess.

Dahlias: mixed, Mr A Greenwood; medium decorative, Mr A Greenwood; medium cactus, Mr D Clamp; small decorative, Mr D Clamp; small cactus, Mr A Greenwood; ball, Mr A Greenwood; pompom, Mr A Greenwood; bloom, Mr A Greenwood.

Gladioli: three spikes, Mr A Greenwood; one spike, Mr D Clamp. Chrysanthemum: incurved, Mr T H Hinton; five any variety, Mr A Murphy; one any variety, Mr B Murphy; three spray stems, Mrs B L Cottam. Rose: floribunda, Mr R Barker; two hybrid tea, Mrs S Redfern; three hybrid tea, Mrs E Belshaw; one hybrid tea red, Mr A Greenwood; one hybrid tea pink. Mrs I Snelgrove; one hybrid tea any other colour, Mr R Barker. Top Vase Garden News, Mrs S Jones.

Annuals: mixed, Mrs D Mason; sweet peas, Mr D Clamp antirrhinum, Mr R Atkinson; cosmea, Mrs D Banks; asters, Mrs D M Banks; African marigolds, Mr A Greenwood; French marigolds, Mrs L Hinton; other annuals, Mrs S Jones.

Perennials: herbaceous one kind, Mr A Greenwood; herbaceous any variety, Mrs B Holden; hardy shrub in flower, B M and B Myers. Miscellaneous, lady's spray, Mrs L Hinton; gent's buttonhole rose, Mrs R Lawson; gent's buttonhole carnation, Mr A Murphy; six pansies or violas, Mrs E Atkinson; six fuschia heads, Mrs E Atkinson.

Pot plants: begonia, Mr A Greenwood; fuschia, Mr B Lambshead; geranium or pelargonium, Mr A Greenwood; plant in bloom. Mr A Greenwood; coleus, Mr A Greenwood; foliage plant, Mr J Reynoldson; cacti or succulent, Mrs V Monteath. Vegetable: cauliflower, Mr B L Cottam; broad beans, Mr R Atkinson; peas, Mr T W Hinton; kidney beans, Mr T W Hinton; runner beans, Mr W Bollard; carrots, Mr G Atkinson; four tomatoes, Mr B L Cottam; truss of tomatoes, Mr A Heap; six tomatoes, Mr T Scott; potatoes white, Mr T Scott; potatoes coloured, Mr G Atkinson; onions from sets, Mr T Redfern; onions from seed not exceeding 1lb, Mr G Atkinson; onions mammoth class, Mr G Atkinson; beetroot, Mr B L Cottam; turnips, Mr D Nowell; cabbage, Mr B L Cottam; cucumber, Mr W Bollard; marrow, Mr W Bollard; leeks, Mr G Atkinson; other vegetable, Mr T W Hinton; mis-shaped vegetable, B M and B Myers; fruit, Mr T W Hinton; rhubarb, Mr J Mason; herbs, B M and B Myers.

Wine: dry red, Mrs D C Cottam; sweet red, Mr S Hulme; dry white, Mrs E Driver; sweet white, Mr E Driver; dry flower, Mr E Driver; sweet flower, Mrs D C Cottam; dry grain, herb or other, Mrs D C Cottam; sweet grain, herb, or other, Mrs D C Cottam.

Confectionery: shortbread, Mrs R Lawson; Victoria sandwich, Mr M Jackson; novelty cake, Mrs R Lawson; chocolate cake, Mrs R Lawson; jam tarts, Mrs M Rushton; Madeira loaf, Mrs S Halstead; fruit cake, Mrs E Barker; cheesecake, Mrs S Halstead; baked custard, Mrs R Nuttall; biscuits, Mrs M Rushton; butterfly cakes, Mr M Jackson; coconut tartlets, Mrs M Rushton; raspberry jam, Miss H Wallace, strawberry jam, Mrs L Hinton; other jam, Mr J Smith; marmalade, Mr J Smith; jelly, Miss H Wallace; lemon cheese, Mr J Smith; pickles, Mrs L Hinton; chutney, Mrs M Brown. Children's confectionery, juniors, Miss S Wright; seniors, Miss H Wallace.

Handicraft: decoupage, Mrs M Howarth; soft toy, Mrs S Redfern; hand-knitted garment, Mrs M Wilson; embroidered article, Mrs K Griffiths; craftwork over 65 years, Mrs D Chadwick; craftwork under 65 years, Mr J Nuttall; tapestry, Mrs D Chadwick; greetings card, Mrs A Binns.

Photography: over the garden wall, Mrs M Muldowney; by the water, Mrs D Muldowney; people, Mrs L Mezzo; a touch of red; Miss A Lawrence; bloomers, Mrs D Mason.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.