Page 48 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2022/23

The Scots Abroad
Oh my goodness, where do I start
this year? What a year of great results from some of our Scottish Branch members, both at home and throughout the UK following a successful Branch Championships, a competition every week thereafter followed throughout the month of September... a tiring but very rewarding run of events with our Chair, Ian Stocks leading the charge (and of course, behind every great man is the support of a great woman with Linda Stocks never far away).
Firstly, a trip to the Louisa Centre in Stanley for the North East Horticultural Society Championships by Ian Stocks, Gareth Cameron and John Currie for some highlight sought after tickets of
a high quality show. Ian Stocks had a
great show with 1st place with his Mini collection, Globe Beetroot, the British Potato championships coloured potatoes and the British Potato championships white potatoes, peas and tomatoes. Ian was also really chuffed to have achieved a 7th Place for his two pot leeks. Not to be out done, John Currie won 1st prize with his shallots and Gareth Cameron won 1st prize for his three dressed onions 1Kg to 1.5Kg. Wow, what a great day was had by all!
One week later the same three prize winners were joined by Jim and Grace Pearson, Ian Simpson and Fiona Shenfield who entered the Northern Branch Championships & North of England Horticultural Society Fruit & Vegetable Championships, as part of the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show in the beautiful grounds of Newby Hall, Ripon.
At the Northern Branch, Ian Stocks continued with his potato prowess and
led with a 1st place for his plate of Winston potatoes, closely followed by Ian Simpson with a winning set of peas and Jim Pearson having won the Shallots Class. Gareth Cameron displayed a lovely set of 250g onions achieving 3rd prize and also a 3rd for his French Beans. Jim Pearson also achieved a 2nd for his Globe beet, and a
Class 1 – 6 Veg Collection – 1st Niall Currie
2nd for his Cauliflower called “Zaragoza” from DT Brown. Jim grew this as it was advertised as being club root resistant and he would certainly recommend it as his other cauli types he had grown had certainly suffered from club root, but the Zaragoza didn’t. Jim was also awarded 2nd prize for his mini collection, 3rd for his collection of x6 single veg collection and 4th in the Tap Root Class.
In the Harrogate Show, Grace Pearson was delighted to come first with her trug of vegetables, closely followed by Fiona Shenfield in 2nd place. Ian Simpson was over the moon to have entered for the
Class 4 – Large Exhib. Onions - 1st Niall Currie – Kelsae
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Ian Simpson’s 1st – Peas – Northern Branch
Jim Pearson with his winning shallots