'Pretty chuffed'

David Purcell, of Christchurch, was "pretty chuffed" when his incurve chrysanthemum entry "Kay Woolman" won the Champion of Champions award at the South Island Chrysanthemum Show, held in association with the Dunedin Horticultural Society's Autumn Flower Show, in Dunedin on Saturday.

Mr Purcell, who has been growing chrysanthemums for more than 20 years, said one key to exhibition success was to protect them from adverse weather over the final six weeks before an autumn show.

He protected them in a tunnel house and was also very careful when transporting blooms to the show by car, ensuring they were kept separated to avoid accidental damage.

Dunedin society president Colin Morton said "we're absolutely delighted with everything", as many hundreds of people surged through the joint show, held at Forbury Park Raceway on Saturday and yesterday.

The chrysanthemum show attracted about 290 entries, and the society's show had 200.