The Corporation of Hamilton can rest assured its floral displays are world class.

Two Corporation employees, Mr. Neville Richardson and Mr. George Ogden beat out competitors from Japan and Korea to win first prize in their respective classes at the City Hall International Flower Show.

Hours before judging began on Thursday, the atmosphere was tense as flower arrangers from all over the world scrambled to put the finishing touches to their leafy creations.

But most competitors said they were just there for fun.

"The reason I came here was to meet other people from other countries with the same interest as me in flower arranging,'' said Miss Tushie Matsui, who works for a large flower shop in Osaka.

"Japan is a very small country and I wanted to see exhibits from other countries so I could see what is going on in the world with my own eyes.'' A Roman Catholic priest from Northern Ireland, Father Sean McEvoy, said he has been flower arranging for over ten years but rarely competes.

"I just came here for pleasure and to get some new ideas,'' he said. "The US and Japanese designs are very different from the Europeans.'' But he said class themes such as "sustained rhythm'', "curved lines'' and "gentle dominance'' proved challenging.

"You have to really think what it means. It does stretch you a bit.

Normally something like balance would be part of any flower arrangement.

"It is the person who interprets the concept the best who gets the most points. The person who comes with new ideas and does something a little bit different,'' he said.

Judges look for colour, texture, balance and proportion, said exhibitor, Mrs.

Gail Irmin from Philadelphia who is also a Garden Club of America judge. But the final decision, she said, remains subjective.

Local flora was apparent in almost all the exhibits although many exhibitors imported their own.

Fruit and vegetables appeared as frequent accoutrements, bringing touches of autumnal colour to the displays. Mr. Jon Martinez who works for a flower shop in Birmingham, Alabama uses vegetables in his designs to get away from traditional arrangements.

"Of course if it doesn't work out you can always eat it,'' he laughed as he held up a string of cherry tomatoes.

"It has a very natural harvest appeal. People are very tired of florist flowers,'' he said.

For Supermart president, Mr. Tredrick Gorham, who promised exhibitors he could supply any fruit or vegetable in the world, the show has been a boon.

He used contacts in Europe and North America to import miniature vegetables, baby eggplants and pomegranates from as far afield as Europe, Mexico and South America with just a few days notice.

But Mr. Martinez admitted it was difficult to know what the judges would be looking for outside specific class stipulations for height, type of plant material and props.

"Flower arranging is so subjective,'' he said. "This design is everything I am and see and do. I particularly love to work with dead materials.'' And while he used to compete seriously, now, he says, he does it for fun.

"I came here because I wanted to meet people,'' said Mr. Martinez who has never travelled outside the United States. "The people here have been super.

I keep telling my friends: `Quick come down here -- it's fabulous'.'' FLORAL GLORY -- Mr. George Ogden, park horticulturist for the Corporation of Hamilton (left) and Mr. Neville Richardson, City Hall flower arranger both won first prize in their respective classes at the International Flower Show at City Hall.