ENTRIES in this year's West Malvern Garden and Nature Club's annual show were down on last year, but the quality of many of the exhibits remained high.

The show, held at the village hall, attracted 122 entries, down from last year's record-breaking figure of 181, leading club spokesman Lionel Shorstone to wonder if weather is to blame.

He said: "Some people have doubtless fled to avoid the autumn weather which set in at the start of August, but the fruit trees are cropping well so the quality of entries was high, but we were down on the number of flower-entries."

He said that, as always, the club was grateful to the efforts of the judging team, John Deem, Winn Dickason and Kay Roxburgh.

RESULTS

HOME-GROWN

Best flower in your garden: 1st Chantal Crawford, 2nd Colin Jackson.

Dahlias: 1st Deirdre Drake, 2nd C Crawford, highly commended: Barbara Meddows.

Flowering pot plant: 1st Margaret Rowlands.

Single rose: 1st C Jackson, 2nd C Crawford.

Sweet peas: 1st C Crawford, 2nd B Meddows, HC C Jackson.

Vase of flowers: 1st C Crawford [Shield for best flowers entry], 2nd C Jackson.

Berries: 1st Helen Tudge, 2nd Phil Drake, HC Lynn Clearwaters.

Basket of fruit: 1st C Crawford (John Deem Cup for best fruit entry), 2nd H Tudge.

Cooking apples: 1st P Drake, 2nd B Meddows, HC L Clearwaters.

Eating apples: 1st P Drake, 2nd C Jackson.

Tomatoes: 1st C Crawford, 2nd Kay Beach, HC Carole Houghton.

Stone fruit: 1st P Drake.

Runner beans: 1st L Clearwaters, 2nd C Crawford, HC Elaine Bentley.

Courgettes: 1st B Meddows.

Potatoes: 1st Paul Sandover, 2nd C Jackson, HC L Clearwaters.

Basket of vegetables: 1st C Crawford (Cup for best vegetable basket), 2nd C Jackson, HC Kay Beach.

Other Vegetables: 1st C Jackson, 2nd C Crawford, HC Rob Crawford.

Colin Jackson also won the John Deem Cup for the best overall vegetable entries.

CHILDREN'S ENTRIES

Vegetables: 1st Molly Langley, 2nd Bradley Langley. Flowers: 1st B Lamgley, 2nd M Langley.

COOKERY

Blueberry muffins: 1st Jenny Hall, 2nd Sue Kershaw, HC Jane Edwards.

Rosemary's challenge cake: 1st S Kershaw (Spoon for the best cookery entry), 2nd J Nisbet, HC C Crawford.

Cherry scones: 1st C Crawford, 2nd J Nisbet.

Summer fruit jam: 1st C Houghton, 2nd C Crawford, HC B Meddows.

St Clements marmalade: 1st C Houghton, 2nd C Crawford, HC Kathy Frampton.

CHILDREN'S ENTRIES

Scones: 1st William Edwards.

CRAFT

Table centre: 1st C Crawford, 2nd P Sandover.

Foliage arrangement: 1st B Meddows, 2nd C Crawford, HC Sarah Bennett.

Gift box: HC C.Crawford.

Art: 1st D Drake, 2nd S Bennett, HC C Houghton.

Embroidery/sewing: 1st C Houghton and J Hall, HC S Kershaw and B Meddows.

Knitting/crochet work: 1st K Frampton, 2nd C Houghton, HC Sheila Walker.

Other craft: 1st P Sandover (Plate for best craft entry).

PHOTOGRAPHIC

The colour red: 1st S Kershaw, 2nd B Meddows, HC C Crawford.

Patterns in nature: 1st Eric Hollands, 2nd C Crawford, HC B Meddows and S Kershaw.

Malvern landscape: 1st S Kershaw, HC C Houghton.

People: 1st B Meddows (Tankard for best photographic entry), 2nd Vic Frampton and C Houghton.