AFTER a magnificent summer, the Usk in Bloom team battled torrential rain to travel to Cleethorpes over the weekend, to await the outcome of the Britain in Bloom judging competition which took place on Tuesday 6th August.

A gala dinner attended by more than 500 people represented the 76 other groups from the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland, and it proved to be an evening of nervous anticipation for everyone.

The standards were incredibly high and announcing the results in alphabetical order, Usk found itself alongside three other gold standard entrants.

Usk was judged as being "outstanding" and having "an exceptionally high standard demonstrated throughout. A consistent approach that demonstrated best practice, continuing development and sustainable effort, meeting all the judging criteria and scoring very highly in every section of the marking sheet."

After chairman Tony Kear and Britain in Bloom co-ordinator Carys Davies were presented the Gold Standard Certificate and flag by gardening celebrity Bob Flowerdew, it was a tense moment before Scotland's first time entrant Coupar Angus was declared the overall category winner.

"It was a moment of mixed emotions but we certainly felt as a group of volunteers we had given absolutely everything into our entry that we could, we were all physically and mentally exhausted," said chairman Tony Kear.

"We had only lost out by a few marks with a few dying trees in the Owain Glyndwr field, unpainted street benches, some older flower containers around the town and a few empty hanging basket brackets in Bridge Street, all making the slight difference.

"We are, however, incredibly happy and immensely proud of what our new group has achieved in such a short space of time.

"The judges recognised this by saying that the community were to be congratulated on presenting to the judges a truly wonderful entry encompassing all that is best about In Bloom.

"The comments we have received from visitors and our residents have been amazing. The floral displays have been recognised as the best ever and we certainly have a hard act to follow for next year.

"To see so many people taking photographs in Twyn Square this year is very rewarding for us.

"Working together is the key. While the summer may be over and the 2013 floral displays are soon to be composted, our planning for 2014 has begun as we have 2,000 daffodil bulbs to plant during November."