Latest updates from Preston & District Beekeepers

Success at the National Honey Show

We’d like to pass on the fantastic news that Preston BKA gained 3rd place at the National Honey show in October. The certificate and photos are on our website and will also be on display at the apiary very soon. We also earned £25 in prize money!

The class, especially for the Centenary year was for a shop window display and only groups were eligible to enter. The club staged a Christmas themed exhibit with contributions from 9 of our members. Huge thanks to them for their efforts.

It was a very strong class, with 8 well thought out entries. The judge thought our display was stunning and completely answered the schedule brief. We are very proud of our collective achievement.

In addition, we had some brilliant individual results.

Simon Cordingly gained first place in 2 classes in photography and video.

Jan Blanthorn Hazel won 3rd place for her Heather honey

Elaine Hargreaves was awarded 3rd place for her marmalade

Liane Doree was awarded first place for Sections (winning a trophy) and for wax wraps.

Liane and the committee would like to encourage members to experience the National Honey Show if possible, it’s a fabulous three day event with lectures and workshops too.

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Bee Photography

Meg Dixon, whom you might have met at the apiary with her camera has recently had one of her photographs published in the Guardian newspaper.

https://www.theguardian.com/community/gallery/2023/oct/11/hint-of-hopper-and-the-end-of-summer-readers-best-photos

The picture was taken at the apiary last month.

If you like to know more about bee photography, Meg is happy to chat. dixonm797@gmail.com.

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Honey Show 2023

Congratulations to all those who received an award, prize or a trophy at our 2023 Honey Show which was held on Saturday 23^rd September at Samlesbury War Memorial Hall, Preston.

Around fifty people attended throughout the day to show their exhibits which were Judged by Stephen Guest from Cheshire, with Elaine Hargreaves from Lancashire Stewarding, & to listen to our Speaker Gerry Collins from South Yorkshire talk on the fascinating subject of “Pollen” whilst judging was underway.

Exhibits were entered into every one of the 21 Classes on the Schedule which was encouraging, & the Judge Stephen Guest described the standard as ‘very high’, although he explained that he was not able to make awards in all classes. We all learnt from his advice & his improvement points for future exhibits.

As there were 120 exhibits including those in the Blacked Out Jar Class at our show, the judge Stephen Guest was able to present a Blue Riband Award for the Best Exhibit in the Show, which is only given when there are over 100 exhibits. This prestigious award allows the recipient to exhibit at the 2023 National Honey Show at Sandown Park, at the end of October.

The Honey Show was also an opportunity to have some fun in our friendly competition to make the Fastest Frame to BBKA standards of course, as well as to catch up with fellow beekeeping friends old & new over lunch & a cuppa.

Thank you to all those who helped out on the day, to those who exhibited & well done to everyone who received an award, prize or a trophy.

You all made our local Honey Show an enjoyable & successful day.

Caroline Coughlin, Show Secretary

List of class prize and trophy winners

2023 Class & Trophy Winners – PBKA Honey Show 23.9.23

Photographs from the day and of Trophy Winners