GROUPS and individuals who entered this year's Keighley in Bloom awards have been rewarded at a well-attended ceremony.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Mike Gibbons and Keighley town mayor Coun Graham Mitchell addressed guests at the presentation evening at Keighley Civic Centre, in North Street.

Coun Mitchell awarded the Keighley in Bloom entrants with their prizes at the occasion last week. (Sept 22) This contest was organised by the Keighley in Bloom Partnership with the support of Bradford Council and Keighley Town Council. All the entries had to come from within the Keighley Town Council area.

The Keighley in Bloom best garden and allotment competition for 2014 attracted 36 green-fingered entrants, and featured four classes for members of the public to enter, as well as one commercial category for premises such as pubs, restaurants, care homes, community groups and school gardens.

Judges were looking for imaginative use of colour, condition and variety of plants within a well balanced layout.

A spokesman for Keighley in Bloom said: "Many thanks to all who entered the competition again and also to the new entrants.

"Thanks also to the businesses across town who have helped to make the town look so appealing to the many visitors we have received this year."

She paid tribute to Co-operative Funeralcare Keighley & Silsden for their sponsorship of the awards, and singled out the businesses who have sponsored hanging baskets this year.

Coun Mike Gibbons presented the certificates to this year's successful Yorkshire in Bloom entrants.

Organisers voiced their thanks to the people behind the different entries, which included Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, Keighley Healthy Living Network, Airedale Hospital, The Oaks Day Centre, Mount Pleasant Kennels and Holden Park.

Keighley in Bloom member Mike Cunningham said the presentation evening had been a great success.

"They put on a fantastic spread for us in the civic centre, and we had an 85 per cent turnout from the people who had entered," he said.

"Keighley did really well in Yorkshire in Bloom this year, and we're now very close to getting gold. We're just a couple of points away and I'm not retiring till we get it!

"We have some superb individual locations in the town. Steve Thorpe's Union Flag floral display in Town Hall Square was brilliant, it really knocked the judges out.

"On the horticultural side of things we're absolutely fine, we just need to bring some more community groups on board, groups like the Scouts and Cubs."

Community groups interested in taking part can call 07977 051236 to contact Mr Cunningham.

 

Full results for Keighley in Bloom 2014

Best public display: winner – Airedale Shopping Centre; gold – the Knowle Funeral Care, Mount Pleasant Kennels, Oaks Day Centre, Airedale Shopping Centre, Royal Oak (Damside) and the Busfeild Arms (East Morton); silver – public footpath at High Spring, the Boltmakers Arms, Ingrow West and Keighley stations on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Sangat Community Centre and the Friends Meeting House; bronze – Aire Valley Business Centre; certificate of merit – the Volunteers Arms.

Best private front/back yard: winner and silver – Mr and Mrs K Marsh.

Best container display: winner – Mrs A Blades; gold – Mr and Mrs Allan, Mrs A Blades and Mrs PA Farr; certificate of merit – Mrs J Crowther.

Best garden: winner and gold – Mr and Mrs Parker; silver – Mrs M Anderton, Mrs B Turner and Mr J Whittock; bronze – Mr H Lowe, Mrs J Grainger, Mr R Clarke and SJ Pickering; certificate of merit – Mr H Plunkett.

Best allotment: winner – Mr W Spink; gold – Mrs C Holmes, Mr W Spink, Mr P Beardsley and Mrs J Taylor; silver – Mr J Johnson and Mrs F Garnham; bronze – Mr JL Robinson; certificate of merit – Mr and Mrs McAteer.