THE internet has allowed the Buriton Village Show to take place this year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers took the 2020 event online and dubbed it the ‘Buriton Virtual Village Show’.

There were four categories – Under-18s, My Veg Patch, The Best of My Garden and My Lockdown.

The winners were decided by “popular acclaim” on the show website and were announced last Saturday.

Organising committee chairman Buzz Cousins said: “This year the pandemic has changed everything but, even so, we have held our village show online instead in defiance of the virus.

“The entries for the virtual village show are colourful, beautiful, inventive and in many cases highly skilled. Thanks and congratulations to all who entered.

“The organising committee are delighted so many parishioners joined in this odd Covid adaptation to our normal show. About 50 piled in with well over 100 images.

“They are a testament to our collective resilience during the pandemic, and to the great pool of talent among us. The gallery is also a fine showcase for the beautiful part of the world we live in.

“The website will be left open for people to enjoy for the next few weeks.

“Many thanks to our webmaster Alistair Martin and to our designer Paul Martin – no relation – for making such an elegant display so quickly.

“You can get all the details and see the amazing gallery of entries to the virtual show at www.buritonvillageshow.co.uk”

Results

Under-18: 1st – Logan and Joshua Hooker, aged five; 2nd – Lilly Watts, aged 10; 3rd – Harry Young, aged 15.

Logan and Joshua took a picture of a sunny countryside scene from their treehouse, Lilly submitted five photographs of beautifully-decorated cakes she had made, and Harry entered four wildlife shots – two of birds, one of insects and one of a frog.

Mr Cousins said: “Special commendations to Skye Black for her lockdown sewing and the Mitford youth for a formidable, collective showing.

“This category attracted the highest number of votes and some of the most imaginative entries.”

My Veg Patch: Joint 1st – Dave Williams, Abigail McKern and Jonathan Jones; 2nd – Rebecca Keville; 3rd – Denise Cousins.

The Best of My Garden: 1st – Ros Coles; 2nd – Abigail McKern, 3rd – Caroline Harwood.

My Lockdown: 1st – Greg Boy; Joint 2nd – Samantha Simpson, Peter Black and Lester Handley; 3rd – Maggie

Johnston.

Greg’s entry, entitled Caribbean Dreaming, saw his garden shed converted into Greg’s Reggae Reggae Rum Bar, featuring a dried grass roof, bunting, high stools, parasol, boogie board, pineapple, plastic frog and Jamaican flag place mat.

Mr Cousins said of this section: “What wonderful projects you have launched, and how lucky we are to be free to isolate on the Downs.”

Facing the future with optimism, he added: “Although this experiment has been fun, we look forward to returning to the show we know and love in real life next summer – fingers crossed.”