The Isle of Wight was buzzing last Saturday when the annual Isle of Wight Honey Show came to Cowes.

The show saw a record 199 entrants, ranging from amateur beekeepers to experienced apiarists as they entered their crafts into the competition, held at the Isle of Wight Community Club.

The Isle of Wight Beekeepers' Association (IWBKA) packed the building as entries were judged in categories such as best novice honey, most popular honey, best mead and best photograph.

Chairman of the IWBKA, Dave Cassell said: "Its been a good high standard, we've had our highest amount of entries this year and the standard of them has just been incredible.

"Per populace the Isle of Wight probably has more hives than anywhere else.

"When we moved the show to Cowes from Arreton it just got bigger and we had way more of the public getting involved.

"Of course it's always the honey itself that dominates the show, but we've had some fantastic entries in the wax categories, there have been some phenomenal stuff entered."

Competitor George Bignell said: "I've entered the the honey classes, the wax classes, most popular honey and I came third in the mead classes.

"I've been entering into the mead for four years now."

Another competitor, and winner of the photograph category, Bod Pheasant, said: "I won the first prize in the novice class for honey last year, and this year I've won the photograph competition so out of the two years I've been coming I think I'm doing quite well.

"I started with one hive, then I got two hives, then three now five. I'm interested in all the crafts side of it. I've been making candles and entering them too."

RESULTS: IWBKA Blue Ribbon Award for outstanding entry — K. Joyce; Claude Cooper Memorial Trophy for most points — G. Bignell, B. Bromley and M. Case; Roberts Memorial Trophy for highest number of points in honey and wax — M. Case; Ray Fitchett Award for best photograph — B. Pheasant; Virginia Ford Trophy for best centrepiece — R. Smith; Reg Gallop Trophy for best article of handicraft — S. Wearden; Rob Marshall Mead Trophy for best mead — B. Bromley; rosette for decorated cakes — P. Joyce; rosette for wax block — J. Creaser; rosette for most popular honey — J. Minchin; rosette for six jars of honey — K. Joyce; rosette for light liquid honey — B. Bromley.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.