Julia, Lee & Simon arrived late Wednesday afternoon to stage exhibits, ready for Judging Thursday morning, where there would be over 2,900 exhibits from 23 Countries, including UK & Ireland and from 406 exhibitors, the biggest Show yet.
Julia Stewarded for Hazel Blackburn; decorative honey cakes, honey tray bakes, honey & sultana cakes, honey biscuits/cookies, lemon honey cake, honey sweets/chocolates and honey marmalade, lunch certainly wasn’t required after tasting 74 cakes and 8 jars of marmalade, and didn’t finish judging until 14.30.
Lee Stewarded for John Donoghue and Stephen Guest; wax foundation, cut comb, soft set honey, attractive handmade model with honey for sale display, light honey, naturally crystallised honey. This was Lee’s first time Stewarding at The National Honey Show and he found it very informative, although rather overwhelming, especially with the amount of Judges and Stewards all gathered in one room prior to Judging, but he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Sutton Coldfield Branch had very good results with Julia’s Mead winning the Sweet Mead, taking home the Jean Blaxland Prize for Mead, the Millennium Mead Coaster for 1st in Class & MJ Badger Mead Bowl for Best Mead in Show. Lee received a 1st with his black & white photograph, 2nd Place for 6 Jars of Honey entered by an Association or Branch Apiary prepared by Bernard and Becca a worthy VHC with her Felt Decorative Flower Display. Cut comb and the invention classes were also entered.
There was plenty to do to keep everyone busy, an abundance of lectures over the whole 3 days, including beginner lectures, there were workshops such as microscopy, wax flowers, cosmetics, candle making, honey & cheese tasting and of course The Trade show, which was very enjoyable as usual.
