GARDENERS from around the region and one of York’s biggest tourist attractions have won awards in the annual Yorkshire In Bloom competition.

More than 250 entrants from across Yorkshire attended a ceremony at the Royal Armouries in Leeds yesterday, as more than 80 awards were up for grabs.

Communities from villages and towns across North and East Yorkshire walked away with prizes. York was presented with a silver gilt award and won the city category overall.

Other winners from the region included Helmsley, Osgodby and Wilberfoss, who all took home prizes in the Large Village category.

Displays were put forward by a variety of entrants, including schools, universities and colleges, as well as town and city groups, and were judged for horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

A team of 75 judges travelled more than 10,000 miles around Yorkshire to look at all 257 entries in the regional competition, which is part of Britain In Bloom – a competition which is now in its 45th year. Special awards were given to Filey Dams, for their conservation efforts, and Alan Dunkley, from Dunnington, who won the Yorkshire In Bloom Photographic Award.

The floral display at York Racecourse also won a special award in the competition’s Tourism section, and James Brennan, head of marketing for the racecourse, said the award was great news for the city.

Liz Levett co-ordinated the competition for City of York Council was delighted with the result.

She said: “We are highly delighted because we’ve never won the city category before.

“The city has been looking fantastic over the last four years since we first entered, and the news is thanks to all the effort put in by everyone involved.

“I’m still waiting and looking forward to seeing the judge’s comments, but I know they were blown away by the effort everyone had put in when they visited earlier this year. We’re just waiting to find out if we can represent the region in the national competition, but if we’re asked I’m sure we’ll say yes.”


LOCAL WINNERS


Large Village

Helmsley - Gold
Cawood - Silver
Osgodby, nr Scarborough - Silver
Wilberfoss - Silver


Urban Community

Starbeck - Gold (category winner)


Small Town

Dunnington - Gold (category winner)
Kirkbymoorside - Silver
Stamford Bridge - Silver


Town

Knaresborough - Silver Gilt
Northallerton - Silver Gilt
Pocklington - Silver Gilt


Large Town/Small City

Goole - Silver
Ripon - Silver


City

City of York - Silver Gilt (category winner)


Small Coastal Resort

Whitby - Silver Gilt (category winner)
Filey - Silver Gilt


Discretionary Yorkshire Rose Award Winners

Tourism Award York Racecourse
Yorkshire In Bloom Photographic Competition Winner Alan Dunkley, Dunnington
Conservation Awards Filey Dams
Community Award Starbeck and Dunnington
Memorial Award Goole Seaman's Mission