A HOTEL, a dental practice, a care home and a community centre proved they were blooming marvellous after scooping top prizes in this year’s Newport in Bloom Competition.

Overall winners of the competition, who took the top honour in the champions class this year, were husband-and-wife partnership Mark and Shelly Gane, who run Llanwern’s Milton Hotel.

The pair’s hanging baskets, flower pots, planters and buckets have been impressing judges for the past seven years, but this year’s win was a shock to the couple, who were away on holiday when judging took place.

Mr Gane, 48, said: “We didn’t actually know we’d won.

It’s fantastic, it’s lovely to win it again.”

The couple, who have run the hotel for the past eight years, said entering the competition took a lot of money, dedication and hard work, but it was worth it because their colourful displays bring a lot of joy to visitors.

Mr Gane said: “We are known for our flowers now so a lot of people come to see them and then we get spinoff business from there.”

Italian-born Newport man Bruno Bellandi proved that even at the grand age of 75 you can still produce winning results after he scooped first place in the best front garden flower display.

The former chip shop owner, who has lived in the city for 52 years, said one judge commented he had never seen an amateur garden like his, while another said she had tried to find fault with the display but could not.

Mr Bellandi, of St Brides, who has entered the competition for the past four years, said: “I am very happy. It’s lots of hard work, I am getting older and it’s naturally getting harder.

I wasn’t going to enter because it’s a lot of pressure but I was persuaded.”

Elsewhere in the city Frank Brooks, of Blewitt Street, Baneswell, took the top prize in the best flower display for pots, containers and baskets, while Malpas Dental Practice, run by Keith Morgan, won first place in the commercial, community, neighbourhood premises group.

The Old Barn pub in Llanmartin won the best hotel or public house category, while the colourful display at Bettws in Bloom community facility was given a highly commended award for the best community centre display.

Residents at Stratford House sheltered housing scheme are celebrating after coming top in the residential, hospital or sheltered scheme class, while St Mary’s Church in Marshfield was named the best-kept churchyard.

Maesglas Primary School was awarded the best school flower display, and Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd got first place in the best school vegetable area group.

Pupils and staff at Lliswerry Nursery also did themselves proud by gaining first place in the best nursery flower display, while youngsters at Fairoak Nursery picked up the best nursery vegetable display.

Newport in Bloom winners 2011

Champions Class


1st Mr & Mrs Gane 'Milton Hotel
2nd Nos 1-15 Penhow Mews, Celtic Horizons
3rd Mr Keith Wigmore, 36 Pillmawr Rd, Malpas

Class 1 Best Front Garden


A: Flower Display
1st Bruno Bellandi, 2 Bridevale Gardens, St Brides
2nd Allan Shaw, 11 Court Meadow, Langstone
3rd Carol Mcclymont, 102 Lighthouse Park, St Brides
HC julia payne, 6 windsor terrace. Baneswell

B: Low Maintenance
1st Bryn Neale Joanna Fudge, 59 Lighthouse Park, St Brides

Class 2 Best Flower Display (Pots, Containers & Baskets)


1st Mr Frank Brookes, 53 Blewitt St, Baneswell
2nd Mr Brian Locke, 4 Old Green Court, Wellfield Rd, Marshfield
2nd Mrs Rhianon Thomas, 8 Victoria Crescent, Baneswell
3rd Mr Cliff Storey, 1 Nant-y-Moor Close, Coedkernew
HC Mrs Nancy Jones, 1 Aspen Way, Malpas

Class 3 Commercial /Community/Neighbourhood Premises


1st Mr Keith Morgan, Malpas Dental Practice, 422 Malpas Road
HC Lighthouse Park Sales Office

Class 4 Best Flower Display Hotels/Public Houses


1st The Old Barn, Magor Rd Llanmartin
2nd The Ship Inn, Caerleon
HC The Rhiwderin Inn
HC The Tredegar Arms

Class 5 Best Maintained Church Grave Yard


1st St Mary's, Marshfield
HC St Anne's Roman Catholic, Malpas
HC St Mary The Virgin, Nash

Class 6 Best Display Community Centres


HC Bettws in Bloom

Class 7 Best Flower Display Residential/Hospitals/Sheltered


1st Stratford House, Shakespeare Crescent, Gaer
2nd Glanmore Residential Home
2nd Milton Court
3rd Solas Hostel
HC St Cadoc's Hospital
HC Pool Cottage, Wilcrick

2011 schools winners


Best School Flower Display (Primary)


1st Maesglas Primary
3rd St Michael's Roman Catholic
HC St Woolos Primary

Best School Vegetable Area (Primary)


1st Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd
2nd Pentrepooeth Primary
3rd Glasllwch Primary

Best School Flower Display (Nursery)


1st Liswerry
2nd Fairoak
3rd Kimberley

Best School Vegetable Display (Nursery)


1st Fairoak
2nd Liswerry
3rd Kimberley