The National Vegetable Society National Championships held at Harrogate Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September 2008 were a great success. The full report from Northern Branch Secretary, David Allison follows:

Report of entries, prize winners, varieties etc.

Class 1 Ayr Flower Show Trophy . Collection of six vegetables, Staging Allowed

6 entries received, 6 staged

First John Branham of Aylesbury, Bucks with 97 points.

• LEEK Sel. Welsh Seedling
• CELERY Evening Star
• POTATO Bonnie
• LONG CARROT Sel. New Red Intermediate.
• PARSNIP Gladiator
• ONION Sel Kelsae

Second Mark Roberts of Barford Warwickshire with 90.5 points

• LEEK Welsh Seedling
• CAULIFLOWER Cornell
• ONION Kelsae
• CARROT Sel.New Red Intermediate
• CELERY Morning Star
• PARSNIP Albion

Third Peter L Clark, of Yarm Cleveland with 88 points

• LEEK Peter Holden Strain
• POTATO Kestrel
• CUCUMBER Carmen
• PARSNIP Princess
• CARROT SEl.New Red Intermediate.
• CAULIFLOWER Cornell

Fourth Trevor Last of Drayton, Norwich with 85.5 points

• CARROT Sel. New Red Int.
• LEEK Welsh Seedling.
• PARSNIP Princess
• TOMATO Cedrico
• ONION Sel. Kelsae
• CELERY Evening Star

Fifth J.B Searston Alfreton, Derbyshire with 82.5 points.

• LEEK Own Selection
• CELERY Morning Star
• POTATO Malin
• ONION Own Seed
• PARSNIP Javelin
• CARROT Sel. New Red Intermediate.

Class 2 Nutrimate Millenium Class. Collection of 5 kinds
of veg., four of each

14 entries received, 10 staged

First James Pearson, of Whitburn, West Lothian, with 66 points

• TOMATO Shirley
• ONION Canto
• CARROT Major
• POTATO Amour
• BEETROOT Pablo

Second Allen Young of Pershore, Worcs. With 65.5 points

• CARROT Sweet Candle
• BEETROOT Pablo
• POTATO Kestrel
• ONION Tasco.
• TOMATO Cedrico

Third John Smiles, of Tong Bradford with 65 points

• BEETROOT Pablo
• POTATO Kestrel
• TOMATO Cedrico
• CARROT Sweet Candle
• ONION Wolf

Fourth Peter L Clark of Yarm Cleveland with 64.5 points

• CARROT Sweet Candle
• TOMATO Cedrico
• ONION Canto
• BEETROOT Pablo
• POTATO Kestrel

Fifth Andrew Jones, of Oswestry, Shropshire with 64.2 points

• CARROT Sweet Candle
• TOMATO Cedrico
• BEETROOT Pablo
• POTATO Kestrel
• ONION Marco

Class 3 The Maydon Challenge Shield, Onions, large exhibition, one dish of five

16 entries received, 12 staged

• First Andrew Jones Own Strain
• Second Gerald Treweek Own Strain
• Third Paul Henshaw Tom Henshaw strain
• Fourth Jim Robinson Own Strain
• Fifth J McKenzie Own Strain

Class 4 The Anglesey Trophy, Peas, one dish of twelve pods

17 entries received, 8 staged.

• First James Pearson Sel. Show Perfection
• Second Ian Simpson Sel. Show Perfection
• Third M Carter Sel. Show Perfection
• Fourth Trevor Last Sel. Show Perfection
• Fifth Eric Craik Sel. Show Perfection

Class 5 The Vice Presidents Shield, Carrots , long pointed,
one dish of five

28 entries received 10 staged

• First Bob Brown Sel. New Red Intermediate
• Second Peter L Clark Sel. New Red Intermediate
• Third Christopher Hewlett Sel. New Red Intermediate
• Fourth Trevor Last Sel. New Red Intermediate
• Fifth Gerald Treweek Own Strain

Class 6 The Bob Keeley Memorial Tankard, Mini Collection, 3 veg, two of each kind.

30 entries received, 10 staged

First Peter L Clark with 42 points

• LEEK Peter Holden Strain
• PARSNIP Princess
• CAULIFLOWER Cornell

Second Mark Roberts with 41 points

• LEEK Welsh Seedling
• CARROT Sel. New Red Intermediate
• ONION Sel. Kelsae

Third John Branham with 39 points

• ONION Kelsae
• LEEK Welsh Seedling
• PARSNIP Gladiator

Fourth Trevor Last with 38 points

• PARSNIP Gladiator
• CELERY Red Star
• CARROT Sel. New Red Intermediate

Fifth Jim Thompson, with 36 points

• PARSNIP Princess
• CAULIFLOWER Cornell
• POTATO Red Magic

Class 7 The Holdernesse Trophy, Shallots, large exhibition, one dish of twelve.

16 entries received, 12 staged

• First Don Owens Hative-de-Niort
• Second David Thornton Hative-de-Niort
• Third AR Newton Hative-de-Niort
• Fourth Miss S McDonald Hative-de-Niort
• Fifth Andrew Jones Hative-de-Niort

Class 8 The Hogan group Trophy, Parsnips, one dish of five.

24 entries received, 11 staged

• First Peter L Clark Princess
• Second Ian Simpson Princess
• Third Graeme Watson Albion
• Fourth John Branham Gladiator
• Fifth Trevor Last Princess

Class 9 The Garden News Cup Cucumbers, one dish of three.

24 entries received, 8 staged

• First Graeme Watson Carmen
• Second Jim Thompson Carmen
• Third Mrs Sherie Plumb Carmen
• Fourth Gerald Treweek Carmen
• Fifth Alan Hopkins Carmen

Class 10 The Armadale Trophy Tomatoes, one dish of twelve.

23 entries received, 12 entries staged.

• First Andrew Jones Cedrico
• Second Mrs Betty Wall Cedrico
• Third John Branham Cedrico
• Fourth Don Owens Cedrico
• Fifth I R Moore Cedrico

Class 11 The Dundee Discovery Trophy, Onions, one dish of five, 1 kg. to 1.5 kg.

18 entries received, 9 staged

• First Eric Craik Kelsae
• Second Derek Raw Own Seed
• Third John Procter N/A
• Fourth Andrew Jones Own Seed
• Fifth Mark Winder N/A

Class 12 The Gwent DA Trophy Shallots, pickling, one dish of 15.

21 entries received, 15 staged To pass through 30mm ring

• First Raymond Sale Hative-de-niort
• Second Andrew Jones Hative-de-Niort
• Third R Jackson Hative-de-niort
• Fourth Graeme Watson Hative-de-niort
• Fifth Mrs Sherie Plumb Hative-de-Niort

Class 13 The Nickerson Trophy, Potatoes, Coloured, one dish of five.

35 entries received 20 staged

• First Peter L Clark Kestrel
• Second Mrs Sherie Plumb Kestrel
• Third Mrs Pat Lee Kestrel
• Fourth John Procter Amour
• Fifth John Bebbington Kestrel

Class 14 The D T Brown Trophy, Potatoes, White, one dish of five.

28 entries received, 15 staged.

• First Mrs Sherie Plumb Winston
• Second Mark Winder Winston.
• Third Mrs Betty Wall Winston
• Fourth R D Bull Harmony
• Fifth Mrs Pat Lee Winston

Class 15 The NVSMillenium Bowl, Onions, one dish of five up to 250 gms

24 entries received 15 staged.

• First Derek Raw Own Strain
• Second Mark Winder Marco.
• Third Andrew Jones Marco
• Fourth J Davidson Marco
• Fifth R Jackson Tasco

Class 16 The Riverside Trophy, Celery, one dish of three heads

20 entries received 12 staged.

• First Christopher Hewlett Morning Star
• Second Bob Brown Morning star
• Third John Goodall Evening Star
• Fourth Keith Abel Ideal
• Fifth Mark Roberts Morning Star

Class 17 The Chairman’s Challenge Shield, Blanch Leeks, one dish of five

12 entries received, 5 staged.

• First David Metcalfe Pendle Improved.
• Second Peter L Clark Peter Holden Strain.
• Third Derek Aldred Welsh Seedling
• Fourth H Vin Throup Welsh Seedling.
• Fifth Mark Roberts Sel Welsh Seedling

Class 18 The Manchester & District DA Trophy, Runner Beans, one dish of fifteen

17 entries received, 4 staged

• First Mrs Sherie Plumb Stenner Strain
• Second Andrew Jones Stenner Strain
• Third A R Newton Stenner Strain
• Fourth Allen Young Stenner Strain

Class 19 The Holderness Twin Trophy, Carrots, stump rooted, one dish of five

44 entries received, 22 staged

• First Ian Simpson Sweet Candle
• Second M Carter Sweet Candle.
• Third Jim McCartney Sweet Candle.
• Fourth Graeme Watson Gringo.
• Fifth Mark Roberts Sweet Candle

Class 20The Henry Ludlam Trophy, Cauliflowers, one dish of three

20 entries received 10 staged

• First John Bebbington Cornell
• Second James Pearson Bruce
• Third Alan Hopkins Cornell
• Fourth Andrew Jones Beauty
• Fifth Mrs Sherie Plumb Clayton

Class 21The Secrett Trophy, Dwarf French Beans, one dish of fifteen.

18 entries received , 11 staged

• First Andrew Jones The Prince.
• Second David Miles The Prince,
• Third Jim Thompson Unknown.
• Fourth Colin Summerskill The Prince
• Fifth Ian Simpson The Prince

Class 22The D T Brown Beetroot Trophy, Long Beetroot, one dish of five

10 entries received, 3 staged

• First Ian Simpson Regar
• Second Trevor Last Regar
• Third Richard Curtis Regar

Class 23 The Sutton Seeds Silver Cup, Pot Leeks, one dish of two

8 entries received, 4 staged.

• First Gareth Cameron The Cumbrian.
• Second Steve Wright Yorkshire Green
• Third S J Halifax KF Strain.
• Fourth Ray Orme Own Strain

NVS Inter - Branch Championship 2008 Collection of vegetables, six kinds.

First Northern Branch, with 101 points

• PARSNIP Albion
• CARROT Sel New Red Intermediate
• CELERY Ideal
• ONION Own Seed
• LEEK Peter Holden Strain
• CAULIFLOWER Memphis

Second Midland Branch with 100 points

• PARSNIP Gladiator
• CELERY Evening Star
• CARROT Sel New Red Intermediate
• POTATO Bonnie
• ONION Sel Kelsae
• LEEK Welsh Seedling

Third Welsh Branch with 95.5 points

• CELERY Evening Star
• PARSNIP Princess
• CARROT Sel New Red Intermediate
• CUCUMBER Carmen
• ONION Own Seed
• LEEK Welsh Seedling

Fourth Scottish Branch with 93 points

• CELERY Evening Star
• LEEK Welsh Seedling
• ONION Sel Kelsae
• CAULIFLOWER Virgin
• TOMATO Shirley
• PARSNIP Princess

Fifth Southern Branch with 86 points

• POTATO Kestrel
• RUNNER BEAN Stenner strain
• TOMATO Goldstar
• CARROT Sel New Red Intermediate
• CELERY Evening Star
• ONION Sel Kelsae.

NVS Silver medal, for the best exhibit, was awarded to David Metcalfe for class 17, a superb exhibit of 5 blanch leeks, for his own strain of Pendle Improved.

The Cecil Smith Perpetual Silver Salver, for the most points in the show, was awarded to Andrew Jones, Welsh Branch, with an impressive 46 points. Andrew also won this trophy in 2007.

The Banksian Medal, awarded to the exhibitor winning the most prize money in the show, excluding the last two years, was awarded to Peter Clark, Northern Branch member.

A few stats; a total of 107 exhibitors entered, 95 staged. Total of 478 entries received

(2007, 457) and 249 staged. (2007, 293) Disappointingly, this equates to only 52% of entries received actually staged, (2007, 64%) i.e. 44 exhibits less staged than last year. However, whilst disappointing, had all exhibitors who entered, staged all their exhibits, our show Manager, Derek Neumann, would have struggled to have provided enough staging space. Still a fantastic spectacle, and combined with the Harrogate classes, and the Potato, Leek, Onion, and Carrot Championships, our Chairman commented that it was probably the best vegetable show anywhere in the world under one roof.

Best-supported class was the stump rooted carrot class with 44 entries received and 22 staged. The poorest class was the long beetroot, with 10 entries received but only 3 staged.

It was interesting to note that in the white potato class, three of the 5 winners are ladies, well done girls, now show the guys what you can do in the other classes!!

The quality of the exhibits was of an exceptionally high standard, according to the 8 judges, with only one NAS (Not As Schedule), which is always a relief.

What was very pleasing to see was a number of new exhibitors to our Championships, who travelled a fair distance to get there, and put up quality exhibits, with new names on some of the trophies. This can only be good for the future of vegetable showing in our Society.

Just prior to the National AGM at 4 p.m. on Friday, the trophy winners were presented with their trophies, already engraved, (that’s another story!!) by our President, Bill Hargreaves, our sponsors, Kate from Wilkinson’s, and Martin Fish ,President of the North of England Horticultural Society, our hosts for the Championships. Whilst the trophies are awarded for annual competition, each winner receives an engraved plaque to keep. Also, all the exhibitors in class one, the collection of 6 vegetables, receives an engraved glass tankard and engraved wooden base to keep.

Following the AGM, which will be reported on elsewhere, there were an number of awards made by our Chairman Medwyn Williams, presented by Bill to worthy recipients of Fellowships and Silver Medals. As a means of saying thank you to anyone who was involved in the Championships, i.e. officials, exhibitors, hosts, sponsors, judges, stewards etc., an informal buffet meal and entertainment was organised by Gareth Cameron, and was enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to Gareth for his hard work in helping us all to celebrate a successful championships.

Thank you to everyone for their support, exhibitors included, as without you there would be no show. I felt privileged to be part of a successful Championship, and am looking forward to next year's event. This is being organised by the Southern Branch at Dorchester, on 5th and 6th September 2009, at the Dorset County Showground. Put the date in your diaries now!!.

David Allison ,
Secretary.
NVS Northern Branch.