Honey Show 2018
The 2018 Inverness-shire Beekeepers’ Association Honey Show was held again at Simpsons Garden Centre. This is a great location with very friendly staff – and it is free! The main challenge in setting up is that we (and Simpsons!) don’t know where in the centre we will be allocated until mid-day on the day before the show as they are setting up for Christmas at this time of the year. Madness. In the end we had a super spot beside the entrance to the restaurant.
Our judge was Hugh Donohoe from Banchory, ably assisted by stewards Jed Russell and Margaret Bryant. On both days we had good teams of helpers complete with sashes to help with dealing with the public. There were 23 exhibitors with 54 entries compared with last year‘s 20 exhibitors and 56 entries.
It was encouraging to see a few new exhibitors and generally the standard was very high. No matter what the result is, everyone learns something. Beekeepers are a friendly bunch.
Des Kelly and Margaret Lashley fitted out the observation hive with live bees and a red marked queen. This is always a popular part of the show. Kay Kelly did wonderful face painting both days and not just for children’s faces.
Bryce Reynard did some skep making demonstrations at times. Simpsons provided a colouring competition for children.
Quite a few of the exhibitors were able to sell their honey to a very appreciative public and 10% of the sales money will go to the association.
Fred and Jean Millwood won the Peterkin Cup for the best honey exhibit in the show. Stella Chisholm won the new Donald Matheson Quaich for the best two jars of blossom honey and also the silver spoon for her cake as well as getting a first prize for her tablet. Margaret Bryant won the Newcomers Shield. Bryce and Elizabeth Reynard won some of the other trophies although there were few entries in some of the classes.
Gift jars of honey have been given to non-beekeeping people that have directly helped in making the show a success.
Remember to come along to the prize giving at the association Christmas Dinner at the Lochardil Hotel on Friday 23 November.
Next year we want even more exhibitors and exhibits, so start your planning now.