Club Honey Show 2025

Our club Honey Show took place on Monday 29th September at The Chequers Inn, Laddingford.

As always, it was a good and fun evening and we would like to thank the judges James Salter and Julian Newton who shared the judging duties. More importantly, we would like to thank all who took the time and effort to enter. All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received a certificate for their achievements and we also did something a little different this year! We have always had a cup for the ‘ Children’s Class ‘  which is presented for the best ‘Bee Themed Drawing or Painting’. Unfortunately, the last two years we have had no children that have entered the show and therefore the cup has sat in our clubhouse.  This year Marilyn was invited to Bower Grove Special School to give a talk to the children about bees at their assembly following a swarm which had arrived in their school grounds and which was collected by one of our members. The children were really interested and asked many questions. This was then followed by a visit to our apiary prior to the end of their term by’ Hedgehog’ class. Whilst at the apiary and in discussion with Julian, our apiary manager, we decided to invite the school to take part in our honey show by producing a painting or drawing. The children were really excited when asked if they would like to enter and so the headteacher and Marilyn had been liaising on how we would do this. Once the entries  were produced by the children we ‘whittled’ them down to 30 entries, which we displayed around the garden room at The Chequers on the night of the honey show and which were judged by the members that attended. Following the show the 4 paintings with the most votes were identified but ALL the children that entered will be receiving a certificate to acknowledge their efforts. The cup for the best painting and all the certificates were presented to the children when Marilyn attended their end of term assembly on the 17th October.

So, here are the results: 

OPEN CLASSES (3 categories – Honey, Baking and Wax)  

Honey Class

Light Honey
1st place – Judy Taylor
2nd place – Guy Walker
3rd place – Jason Arms

Medium Honey
1st place – Jason Arms
2nd place – Simon Ashdown
3rd place – Mark Renshaw

Dark Honey (only 1 entry)
James Salter

Granulated Honey 
1st place – Mark Renshaw
2nd place – Guy Walker
3rd place – Mickey Pelling

Cut Comb Honey (only 1 entry)
1st place – Mickey Pelling

Baking Class 

Honey Cake
1st place – Judy Taylor
2nd place – Pauling Bailey
3rd Place – Simon Ashdown

Honey Flapjacks (only 1 entry)
1st place – Simon Ashdown

Honey Fudge
1st place – Simon Ashdown
2nd place – Richard Mallion

WINNER OF BAKING CLASS AND RECEIVER OF A SILVER TRAY – SIMON ASHDOWN

Wax Class 

Two Identical Moulded Candles
1st place – Anne Ashdown
2nd place – James Salter
3rd place – Mark Taylor

Two Identical Dipped Candles 
1st place – Anne Ashdown

Two Identical Rolled Candles 
1st place – Anne Ashdown
2nd place – Judy Taylor

Five 1oz Blocks of Beeswax 
1st place – Mark Taylor
2nd place – Anne Ashdown

WINNER OF THE WAX CLASS CUP – ANNE ASHDOWN

OVERALL WINNER OF THE OPEN CLASS CATEGORY (HONEY, BAKING AND WAX) AND RECEIVER OF THE ‘OPEN CLASS’ CUP – SIMON ASHDOWN

NOVICE CLASS

One jar of Clear Honey – Any Colour
1st place – Pauline Bailey
2nd place – Richard Mallion
3rd place – Linda Carroll

One jar of Granulated Honey 
1st place – Guy Walker
2nd place – Pauline Bailey

WINNER OF THE NOVICE CLASS AND RECEIVER OF THE NOVICE CUP –
PAULINE BAILEY

Fun Class 

A Bee Themed Photo 
1st place – Simon Ashdown
2nd place – Guy Walker
3rd place – John Shanley

WINNER OF THE FUN CLASS AND RECEIVER OF A CUP – SIMON ASHDOWN

Children’s Class – Children’s Class Cup

There was 31 entries by Bower Grove School!

1st place – Gracie 8 years old
2nd place – Tilly 8 years old
3rd place – Arther 7 years old
4th place – Elijah 10 years old

WINNER OF THE CHILDRENS CLASS AND RECEIVER OF THE CUP – GRACIE

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING THE 2025 OVERALL SHOW WINNER AND WHOSE NAME IS ADDED TO THE LDBKA SHIELD DISPLAYED IN THE CLUB HOUSE IS – SIMON ASHDOWN

We also award a Certificate of Merit for the best jar of honey in show and this year it was a pleasure to award this to – JASON ARMS

 Once again, well done to everyone who entered.