Family affair
In what has been an extraordinary year and for the first time, the inter-club
award for the supreme sample of malting barley was shared between Stalham and
Holt Clubs.
Stalham’s chairman, Chris Borrett, explained that Edward De Feyter, of C H
Callow, of East Ruston, won the barley championship with a sample of Flagon.
His father, Graham, of Edingthorpe, entered a similar Flagon sample from Holt –
so there was no contest between father and son and the club honours are even.
Crop competitions
As the longest beet campaign in British Sugar’s history nears completion, it is
also hoped to report the results of the Cantley Cup for best overall
performance by a member after the factory slices out on or after Monday, April
12.
As one of the club’s longest-serving judges has announced his retirement, it is
fitting to announce the results of the club’s whole-crop beet competition.
Ken Matthews, who joined Stalham Farmers’ Club in 1967 and has been the
mainstay of beet judging for the past 54 years, has decided to stand down. A
combination, he says of old age and the challenging of walking through hundreds
of acres of beet, has forced his reluctant retirement. The club sends best
wishes for his retirement.
Despite the various Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns, it was possible to
judge crops across a large spread of east Norfolk including one 110-acre (44ha)
field and another 70-acre (28ha) block in early October. It was not possible
because of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions to judge the best two-acre beet
competition. My apologies.
Whole crop beet cup
The winner cup – Robert Cook, of Boundary Farm, Ingham. The runner-up was
Milligen McLeod, of East Ruston, and in third place, LF Papworth, of Felmingham
with a field at Goulders Farm. Two points split the top three crops.
Potato Cup
Another long-standing judge, Denis Walsh, ran his experienced eye over a
fascinating selection of crops.
The winner was the club’s president, Thomas Love, with a crop of Innovator,
grown by Brumstead Church and entered by his son William.
The runner-up was a field of Desiree grown by William Sands, also at Brumstead,
and in third place, another crop of Innovator, grown for Lamb Weston by Robin
Baines at Church Farm, Tunstead.
The grain competition was also judged.
Barley
1. C H Callow, Edward De Feyter, East Ruston (Flagon)
2. Milligen McLeod, East Ruston (Choice)
3. Andrew Alston, Catfield (Laureate)
Wheat
1. Milligen McLeod
2. LF Papworth
3. B R Ellis & Son, Hickling.