This cup is awarded for the most prize money in Section A: Flowers, Containers and Rhubarb. It is awarded for one year.

History

This cup is inscribed “Warwickshire Horticultural Association Challenge Cup”. There are 11 shields on the base with the names of the winners from 1908–1913 and 1929–1934. The cup was originally awarded by the Warwickshire Horticultural Association at the Warwickshire County Show for the class: “Collection of flowers, fruits and vegetables, open to the cottagers and amateurs of any society in the administrative county”. (The County show also included showjumping and several other agricultural competitions.) In the pre-war period the cup was awarded to a society, rather than an individual. 

Wellesbourne won the prize in 1912 and 1913 and came second in 1914 but the cup was not inscribed with the 1914 winner. In August 1915 an article in the Leamington Courier announced that the Warwickshire Horticultural Association would be unable to have a tent at the Warwickshire Agricultural Society Show because of “shortness of entry”. 

It seems that Wellesbourne was allowed to retain the cup and later used it as an award for a class in the Wellesbourne and Walton Show. Articles in the Stratford Herald confirm that a silver challenge cup was awarded for the sweet peas class to Mrs Charters in 1929 and to Mr Oscar Hughes of Alveston in 1930. This matches the shields for these years on the Warwickshire Horticultural Association Challenge Cup.

The Oldham Cup is awarded for the most prize money in Section B: Floral Art.  It is awarded for one year.

History

The cup is inscribed: Presented to the Wellesbourne and Walton Horticultural Society by Philip Oldham 1952. This cup is awarded for one year.

The cup was first awarded in 1952 for the best exhibit in the class

“a vase of gladioli, 5 mixed spikes”.

A Mr P Oldham was listed as one of the many members of the Society in 1952, along with Mr & Mrs Oldham but does not seem to have served on the Committee.

The Granville Cup is awarded for most prize money in Section C: Cookery. It is awarded for one year.

History

Although not clear in the photo, the cup is inscribed with the Granville family crest, coat of arms and motto. 

Bernard Granville was born in 1873, the son of Bevil Granville of Wellesbourne Hall.

The 1924 show schedule (the earliest one we have) lists Col. B. Granville as a patron of the Society. “A silver challenge cup presented by Colonel B Granville to be held for one year by the exhibitor in the Cottager’s Class who obtains the largest aggregate of points at the show.” Newspaper articles indicate that he presented a cup as early as 1909.

He also presented prizes for the best kept allotments in his area. Lt. Col. Bernard Granville died in 1933 and is buried in the graveyard at St Peter’s Church, Wellesbourne.

The Ken Wheeler Trophy is awarded for the most prize money in Section D: Children’s Classes. It is awarded for one year.

History

Ken Wheeler served the Society from 1950 to 1973 in various roles, including Chairman of the Show Committee in the 1950s, when the Show was a major event in Wellesbourne’s calendar.

Later he was Honorary Secretary and Chairman of the Society.

The cup was presented to the Society in 1977 in memory of Ken’s services on the committee over many years.

The People’s Choice Cup is awarded to the person whose entry wins the most votes from visitors to the show.

This cup is held until the Autumn show.

It is inscribed on the front: Wellesbourne & Walton Horticultural Society Tug of War Challenge Cup and on the reverse: Presented by Wellesbourne Football Supporters Club May 10^th,1955.

History

The Wellesbourne and Walton Horticultural Show featured a tug of war competition as part of the entertainments for many years, from about 1936–1962. The Wellesbourne team was formed in 1946. There was great enthusiasm for the sport and the teams trained regularly. Charles Betteridge devised a training machine which was situated on the sports field. This consisted of a wooden frame made of telegraph poles with a rope slung over. A large concrete block was attached to one end which the team pulled against.

The Wellesbourne team took part in many competitions both locally and nationally and were very successful. They were Midlands champions for 10 years and twice participated in the national championships at White City. The Wellesbourne Football Supporters Club presented the Society with the cup in 1955 for use at the shows. In that year the Wellesbourne team reached the final but lost to Much Markle. The Heart of England Tug of War Championship was run in conjunction with the Wellesbourne Show in 1959 and 1961. After that the Championship was held at the Wellesbourne fete earlier in the year, and the Society show became largely a horticultural event.

The People’s Choice award was introduced in 2004 and the Tug of War cup is now presented for this category.

This trophy is awarded to the most successful person in the adult classes (based on most prize money and/or quality of entries) who has not previously entered more than one of our shows. It is held until the Autumn show. 

History

The base of the cup is inscribed on the front: The Harry Bryan Memorial Trophy and on the reverse: Wellesbourne & Walton Horticultural Society.

This cup was donated to the Society by Guy Harrison to honour the memory of Harry Bryan, past chairman of the Society.