The Surrey Honey Show 2024, this year was held at new venue – Denbies Wine Estate on Sunday 1st September. The weather was glorious and the location splendid, we had 43 entrants into the show, entering 196 entries, truly a Blue-Ribbon show.
Overall winning Association was Reigate and for the second year, claimed the Vincent Challenge Cup with 118 points. Kingston came second overall with 62 points, Croydon and Weybridge tied on 60 points each.
Adela Brnakova , Kingston, won the Ken Reed Trophy with her beeswax entry and came fourth with 21 points in the Composite Cup, this award is for an individual Surrey member with the most points, it was won by John Mayne from Croydon with 49 points.
Tom Wood won the Colman cup with his two cut-combs in containers, beating Barry Wood into second place!
Alison Derrick had two Firsts, Mari Siggins-Smith also had a First, with Avis Marshall, Martyn Milner, Janet and Barry winning cash prizes.
There were three new junior classes this year, Max Bavington from Reigate, with two matching jars of honey won the new Hederow Cup for most points in the Junior classes. I very much hope we can encourage more entries into these classes next year.
I’ve no doubt, Kingston can win the Vincent Challenge cup with just a few more entries next year.
What makes points? More entries…
Bob Maurer (Reigate) our Surrey Honey Show Chairman presented the prizes and cups. Tim Lovett ex-BBKA president and Kingston member also joined us for the day.
Many of the public visiting the vineyard came into the show to admire the exhibits and silverware, meet the bees and find out more about nectar rich plants, threats to the bees and other pollinators and buy the sunshine in a jar (or comb) honey – which almost sold out!
Special thanks for all KBKA volunteers who helped during the day, very much appreciated.
Looking forward to seeing more entries next year.
Mike Axford
Surrey Show Chief Steward