Page 53 - ALG Issue 1 2017

Joanna Hall, winner of the Junior Giant Pumpkin Grower Trophy (up to ve years), receives her award from Councillor Gwen Jones.
Ian Davies (left) receives the Joan Hopkin Cup for Largest Pumpkin from Dafydd Rowlands of Joan Hopkin Estate Agents.
David Hall, winner of the Junior Giant Pumpkin Grower Trophy (age 6-16 yrs), receives his award from Councillor Gwen Jones.
And so the Story Ends...
And so, after all the trials and tribulations of the growing season, including high winds destroying Keevan’s “pumpkin house”, Ian panicking because Guto and Keith stopped gaining weight (despite
their gourmet diet), Bill’s pumpkins having “peaked too soon” and poor young Joanna and David’s rst choice pumpkins having collapsed, we nally reached the end of another giant pumpkin growing season.
Heavy lifting equipment (well four strong plot holders actually) were required to lift Guto and Keith into the trailer. Being unsure if the normal scales would be strong enough (they only weigh up to 200lbs), it was arranged with a local engineering company for Ian’s pumpkins, Keith and Guto, to be weighed there.
All the pumpkins were duly picked and placed in the parc ferme (Bill’s garage) the night before the big competition. On the day itself they were delivered safely to the hotel for the grand weigh in.
This year, for the rst time, the youngsters got in on the act and the large crowd of plot holders gave a rapturous round of applause as young Joanna Hall and her brother
David became the rst winners of the new Junior Giant Pumpkin Grower of the Year trophies. Sophie Thomas received a Highly Commended Award for her pumpkin also.
Then it was on to the main event...the
senior competitors. This time it was Ian Davies who took both rst and second place with Keith and Guto respectively beating former winner, Keevan Anker into third place. All of the three heaviest pumpkins were put on display at local establishments where they are raising money for the local RNLI.
And so that ends this year’s competition, but we understand that some new plot holders have already ordered their seeds from America so next year Ian is going to have some serious competition. Watch this space for the next gripping instalment!
Ian Davies (second from right), grower of the winning pumpkin, hands over the cheque to the RNLI
Keevan Anker (left), grower of the runner-up pumpkin, with RNLI crew member Haydn Roberts and Martin Owen, General Manager of the Bulkeley Hotel
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