With all competition sections housed in the main pavilion it was convenient for show goers to make their own appraisals of the judges’ choice even with the inclement weather that marred the show’s outdoor activities.

HORTICULTURE: With the benefits of an excellent growing season the exhibits in horticulture were of a particularly high standard, with some very familiar names among the class winners.

Top exhibitors were: R and N Slarke, Anne Haymen (dahlias); Joy Fillingham (roses); June Crane (floral art, Best Exhibit in show); Maureen Ford (miscellaneous flowers, pot plants); Cathy Macnamara (novice horticulture): Shakaya Bott (children 10-16); Evie Sheather (children under 10); India Macnamara (encouragement award).

NEEDLEWORK: Members of the Lithgow Craft Shop at “Sweetbriar” are always among the most consistent supporters of Lithgow Show.

They were out in force again this year with some excellent work adding to the entries by talented and creative people from across the district.

Class winners in this keenly contested section were David Horton, Robyn Klopf, Christine Monaghan, Annette Milroy, Liz Kitto, Alison Kiernan, Jean Montague, Helen Bowman, Barbara Heath, Helen James, Diane Esgate, Gloria Cooper, Jean Monaghan, Audrey Staines, Annette Heaslip, Cathy Macnamara, Irene Lucas, Vanetta Renshaw, Betty McIntosh, Amy Ribaux, Kristie Hitchon, Pauline Hutchinson, Maureen Ford, Gai Feltham, Shakaya Bott and India Macnamara.

Grand Champion; Kim Follington, Most Successful; Maureen Ford.

OPEN CRAFT: Stephen Cunningham, John Frazer, Jill Stevens, Maurice King, Robyn Klopf. Junior Craft; Piper Anderson. Ceramics; Greg Bayley.

COOKING-CONFECTIONARY: The Lithgow High School cooking class took the most successful exhibitor in this section with wins in several classes, including open and junior.

Again there were familiar names demonstrating their culinary skills among the winners: Margaret Hickie (fruit cakes, pumpkin scones); Doreen Peters (apple pies, small iced cakes, jam tarts, lamingtons); Rebekah Sheather (orange cake, pikelets); Carol Crossman (slices, date roll); Jill Simon (shortbread, sponge); Joy Lawson (carrot cake); Robyn Harding (scones); Deborah Williams (decorated cup cakes).

Juvenile cooking: William Moxham, Chelsea Reeves, Chloe Edwards, Lithgow High School, Zig Zag School, Keeley Collins, Gemalla de Beauzeville-Howarth.

CAKE DECORATING: Jamie Collins, Deborah Williams, Chloe Edwards, Renae Edwards.

JAMES-PRESERVES-PICKLES: Sue Coleman, Bill Williams, Carol Crossman, Margaret McCallum.

WOOL: Some of the district’s best quality wool was exhibited with Tarana’s Peter Moore taking the championship ribbon for merino fleece and Lowther’s J and M Lowe in the non Merino section.

VEGETABLES-FARM PRODUCE: Zig Zag School and Wallerawang School were the most successful in the children’s and juvenile sections while in the open section Archie Ryan repeated his success of the past two years.

Other individual winners were D Macnamara (eggs), Ron Gunn (potatoes), Archie Ryan (onions), Ian Rufus (fruit).