Balmoral Show 2014 – WI Homeskills & Handcrafts Competitions
It was another successful and eventful year for the Women’s Institute at the Balmoral Show. The WI Marquee at Balmoral Park was once again ablaze with colour and aroma from both flowers and cookery, and there was a beautiful display of craftwork by talented ladies who submitted entries in the various Homecraft competitions. There was great interest shown by the viewing public. The number of entries in both the Floral Art and Baking sections had increased from last year, with ninety entries in Floral Art and over one hundred in Baking. This year a new Children’s Section was introduced which included a Floral Art class and a Baking class, both of which had eight entries each. Thank you to the two judges, Joan Magee and Pauline Carlisle who had a difficult task in making their decisions and also to Mr Robin Mercer from Hillmount Garden Centre and Neill’s Flour for their generous sponsorship.
The results were judged as follows:
Cookery
Class 1: Ginger Cake (1lb tin)
1st – Elizabeth Moore, Saintfield WI
2nd – Betty Holmes, Garvagh WI
3rd – Jennifer Busby, Moneyrea WI
Highly Commended – Joan Busby, Moneyrea WI
Class 2: Four Decorated Cup Cakes
1st – Christine Elvin, Saintfield WI
2nd – Margaret Mc Cracken, Hillhall WI
3rd- Jennifer Busby, Moneyrea WI
Class 3: Four Pieces of Shortbread
1st – Nessie Spence, Public Entrant
2nd – Betty Holmes, Garvagh WI
3rd – Ellen McKee, Crossgar WI
Class 4: Fruit Soda Bannock
1st – Ellen McKee, Crossgar WI
2nd – Betty Holmes, Garvagh WI
3rd– Beth Mc Nally, Saintfield WI
Class 5: Mandarin Orange Marmalade (350g jar)
1st – Elizabeth Moore, Saintfield WI
2nd – Helen Dunlop, Maze Brookfield WI
3rd – Ruby Ferguson, Portaferry WI
Class 6: Tomato & Apple Chutney (350g jar)
1st – Geraldine Gray, Downpatrick WI
2nd – Elizabeth Moore, Saintfield WI
3rd – Ruby Ferguson, Portaferry WI
Floral Art
Class 1: Flowers in a Child’s Wellington Boot (width not exceeding 10inches)
1st – Elizabeth Moore, Saintfield WI
2nd – Dorothy Arnold, Richhill WI
3rd – Hazel Campbell, Crumlin WI
Class 2: Miniature Arrangement in an Espresso Cup
1st – Hazel Campbell, Crumlin WI
2nd – Evelyn Mc Donnell, Public Entrant
3rd – Phil Smyth, Portaferry WI
Highly Commended – Jean Sturgeon, Waringstown WI
Class 3: Spring Basket (not exceeding 18inches)
1st – Jean Sturgeon, Warringstown WI
2nd – Hazel Campbell, Crumlin WI
3rd– Sonya Houston, Portaferry WI
Class 4: Five Blooms in a Candle Stick
1st – Dorothy Arnold, Richhill WI
2nd – Rhona Niblock, Crossgar WI
3rd– Rosalind Wheeler, Downpatrick WI
Highly Commended – Jennifer Busby, Moneyrea WI
Class 5: Flowering Plant (up to 6 inches)
1st – Marie Cairns, Glenanne WI
2nd – Edwina Marr, Downpatrick WI
3rd – Betty Holmes, Garvagh WI
Highly Commended – Lydia Bell, Ballywalter WI
Class 6: Miniature Cacti
1st – Marie Cairns, Glenanne WI
2nd – Margaret McCracken, Hillhall WI
3rd – Lydia Bell, Ballywalter WI
Highly Commended – Carole Baird, Glenanne WI
Other prestigious Floral Art awards presented were:
–Best in Show in Floral Art, Home & Garden Perpetual Trophy – Dorothy Arnold, Richhill WI
—Institute Gaining Most Overall Points in Floral Art, Home & Garden Shield – Crumlin WI
Children’s Section
Class 1: Children’s Flowers in a Mug
1st – Claire Suffern
2nd – Jayne Birch
3rd – Hilary Walsh
Class 2: Four Chocolate Brownies
1st – Katie Gregg
2nd – Hilary Walsh
3rd – Daisy Gregg
Craft Section
Class 1 – Patchwork Tote Bag (no less than 15sq inches)
1st- Vera Kennedy, Macosquin WI
2nd – Betty Lyttle, Portaferry WI
3rd – Christine Elvin, Saintfield WI
Class 2 – Ladies Knitted Gloves
1st – Jean Sturgeon, Waringstown WI
2nd- Ethel Simpson, Carnlough WI
3rd – Annie Cuddie, Pomeroy WI
Class 3 – Wool Embroidery (no less than 120sq inches)
1st – Elaine Kirkpatrick, Larne WI
2nd – Elaine Lappin, Maghaberry WI
3rd – Julie Uprichard, Maghaberry WI
Class 4 – Necklet (Bead Weaving)
1st – Inez Richmond, Armoy WI
2nd – Elaine Kirkpatrick, Larne WI
3rd – Julie Uprichard, Maghaberry WI
Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who took the time and effort to enter. Your continued support is greatly appreciated, thank you all very much!
