Woodville show still going strong

Vicki Spencer admires her winning rose which she calls Craig's Rose. The rose, which always flowers first, was planted in memory of Craig , who died of cancer. Ms Spencer won the shield for the runner-up with the most points in show.

On Friday, April 4, 1884, John Bradley's ancestor was a winner with the six short carrots he entered in the annual Woodville Horticultural and Industrial Show.

Mr Bradley can trace his family history in the district back to 1874. His family contribution to the annual horticultural show has grown since then and includes prize-winning butter, described "as fresh and not less than one pound".

For 133 years, the Woodville Horticultural and Industrial Show has been a highlight of the year in the town and, while Mr Bradley looks back with pride, it's the young exhibitors who are taking the show forward.

John Priest is the organisation's historian and said the show is the town's living history and is still growing.

Kevin Eades, who has been president for eight years, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and brother, said it was the work Mr Priest has done which had seen a big increase in the number of exhibits from children this year.

"The kiddies have excelled this time, thanks to John's efforts - he's done a great job," Mr Eades said.

"I just can't get over the number of children's entries. I'm really rapt because those entries are way up on previous years."

Mr Eades said the Woodville show has survived while other shows in Pahiatua and Palmerston North had withered.

"This show runs on raffle sales, with all the prizes donated," he said.

"Woodville is a little town and people love the show and we've attracted a lot of new entrants this year."

However, the one thing organisers can't control is the weather.

"It's been all up the boo-boo and I was worried about the effect it would have on the show," Mr Eades said.

Many exhibitors admit they have no special growing secrets when it comes to producing the perfect blooms and produce.

"I just threw my garden rubbish in the corner so it composted and then threw in the sunflower seeds," Mr Priest said.

"I plant for the monarch butterflies and the bumble bees."

But it was the youngest exhibitors who have the sage advice.

"I just plant them, water them and leave them to get on with it," Emily Angelini-Lyons, 10, said.

Emily and her sister, Claudia, are following the gardening heritage of their grandparents who owned Angelini's Nursery on the outskirts of Pahiatua.

Having green fingers helped the sisters win plenty of prizes, with Claudia winning the Beatrice Terry Memorial Cup for the most points for a novice gladioli and the Alf Eades Memorial Cup.

The girls' grandmother, Bobbi Angelini, was collecting prizes, too, with a first for a best bloom in a vase and a second for her single spike gladioli.

"This is the first time we've exhibited and we've learnt a lot, including how to stage and present your entries. It's been quite an education listening to people here," she said.

It was also a family affair for the Cunninghams, with dad Noel, mum Joanne, Azelle, William and 3-year-old Pearl all winners.