THE competition was described as "fierce" as Wrexham's best gardeners gathered for the county's annual Flower Show last weekend.

The horticultural event, which took place at St Margaret's Church and Community Hall on Chester Road took place on Saturday, August 17, with one man claiming three prizes.

Unni Owens, of the Llay Garden Society group was one of the judges of the competition along with husband Don and Mrs Anne Betts and Mrs Adele Price, with the show comprising of 53 different classes dividing into the following five sections:

Fruit and Vegetables, Flowers and Plants, Floral Art, Home Produce and Handicrafts, Photography and Children's.

Mrs Owens said: "The competition in the 23 Fruit and Vegetable classes was particularly fierce, with the cup for the most points in the section being awarded to Mike Jarvis, of Wrexham, who won eight of the classes, including the coveted Top Tray class.

The Leader:

Mike Jarvis, who has an allotment on Prices Lane, was awarded three awards at Wrexham Flower Show 2019

"In the flowers and plant classes, Wyn Rowlands (The Show Secretary) of Bangor-on-Dee, won the well supported Dahlia class, with a fine vase of five fine blooms. This exhibit also won the M C Hayman Memorial Plate, for best exhibit in the Dahlia class.

"It was also judged to be the best exhibit in the section and, in addition, was awarded the cup for the best Exhibit in the Show (horticultural classes)."

However, the cup for most points in this section was awarded to Mike Jarvis, his second of the day, who won four of the nine classes, who was also awarded a three trophy for winning the most points across the entire show.

Other winners on the day included Josie Dean of Wrexham, who came out on top in the Home Produce and Handicraft section and William Taylor who won both the first and second prizes in the photography section and being awarded with the Norman Land Memorial Cup.

Mrs Owens also praised the work of the children who took part in the show, she said: "There were entries in each of the 19 Children's Classes, with some wonderful mini-gardens, collage drawings, some very imaginative and humorous creatures made from fruit and vegetables and some very tasty-looking cakes.

"The winner of the Hue Griffith Memorial Trophy, for the most points in the children's section, was Nia York, with her sister, Robyn, being runner-up."

The Leader:

Awards were also given for the best kept allotments on the four allotment sites owned by Wrexham County Borough Council, which between them include some 400 plots. The final judging of the competition was carried out by Mr Craig Youens, of the Council's Environment Department, assisted by his colleague, Mrs Nicola Ellis, who is responsible for the day- to-day management of the allotment sites.

At the Erddig site there was a tie for the best plot award, with this being shared by Bruce and Gill Tizzard and Bob and Sandra Townend. They also shared the award for the best kept plot overall, on all four sites.

Mike Jarvis was judged to have the best kept allotment on the Prices Lane Site, with Peter Lee winning the award for the Tanyfron site and Sharon Jones for the Victoria Road site.

All the cups and trophies where presented by Councillor I David Bithell, MBE, who, with his wife Virginia, have been long-term supporters of the show.