The GCA Conference 2017 got off to a flying start with a record £27,440 being raised for Greenfingers in the annual GCA Greenfingers Challenge.

Held at the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, the challenge included a round of indoor "golf", a supper with quiz and "Highland" games including haggis eating and ended with an auction compered by McTopping of Brock, Guy Topping.

Pansies ( the garden centre's) beat the Cabbages ( suppliers) in the indoor golf to regain The Greenfingers Challenge Cup.

The winners of the quiz and games in the evening were the team including Matthew Bent, Martin Cowell, Rod Slater and Richard Newton. "That victory tasted great," explained Martin after playing their joker in the Haggis eating round, in which Martin comfortably beat the other 9 haggis gobblers.

Greenfingers Chairman John Ashley thanked the organisers of the event: Guy and Carol Topping, Ian Flounders and Richard Newton from Woodlodge plus Pippa McKean who ably kept the scores and organised all of the event sponsorship.  "In all my many visits to GCA Conferences I can honestly say I've never enjoyed myself more than this afternoon and this evening.  The amount raised in just one afternoon and evening is about half the cost of building a Greenfingers hospice children's garden. You should be immensely proud of your achievement.  I know the families and carers with children who have life limiting illnesses will be forever grateful.  Thank you."

The sponsors for the 2017 Challenge Event were:

• Airedale
• Apta
• Aylett Nurseries
• Baker & Taylor
• Barton Grange
• Bents
• Briers
• Cadix
• Castle Gardens
• Chessington
• Coolings
• Cowells
• Crest Garden
• Decco
• Deco-Pak
• Glee
• Haskins
• Hayes Garden World
• Hozelock
• IFSE
• Kaemingk
• Klondyke
• Lofa
• McKean Consulting
• Millbrook
• Monkton Elm
• MSL
• Old Railway Line
• Perrywood
• Poplars
• Premier Decorations
• Profitplant
• Ruxley Manor
• Scomac
• Smart Garden
• Squires
• St Peters
• Taylors Bulbs
• Webbs
• Whitehall
• Widdop & Bingham
• Woodlodge
• Zest4Leisure