CHAMPION grower Ray Weeks has enjoyed more success at the Southport Flower Show after trying his hand at a new type of plant.

Ray, of Sutton Leach, enjoyed great success previously with his prize-winning dahlias, winning numerous awards.

However, he decided to try growing pelargoniums to give himself a new challenge.

And in only his second year with them, Ray has triumphed in the Championship Class at Southport Flower Show.

In the competition Ray, 72, also picked up three other first-place finishes in individual classes, two seconds and a third, meaning he picked up awards for every class that he entered.

“I was looking for a new challenge and I decided to diversify,” said Ray, who was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for six years and has also been a champion dog breeder.

“That was the main reason I switched to pelargoniums.

“I had been winning with the dahlias and so it was a new challenge for me so I went away from dahlias.

"I entered four classes and won the championship class for which I had to put four support plants in.

"I had three other firsts in individual classes, a couple of seconds and a third place."

And Ray adds that he has further ambitions with his new type of flower.

He said: "I'm going to go next year for the National Championships. This time I'm doing pelargoniums for it next year.

"I've got to do them for shows over the next 12 months."

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