By John Williams
A NOVICE grower pipped rivals after graduating from the wooden spoon award to beat all comers with the heaviest berry at Goostrey Gooseberry Society show.
After one of the worst growing seasons for years, Martin de Kretser tipped the scales with a Blackden Gem berry weighing 23 pennyweights 19 grains.
Martin came last in the competition at The Crown Inn at his first attempt only four years ago, but the enthusiastic newcomer was not downhearted in defeat and on Saturday proved determination wins.
His premier berry, a tiddler compared with years when entries are heavier, beat longtime growers, including reigning champion Terry Price who came fourth.
Terry’s Blackden Firs berry of 21 pennyweights 20 grains was also beaten by Emma Williams, the show secretary, with a Millenium variety of 23 pennyweights 13 grains, missing the premier spot by a whisker to come second. Veteran grower Doug Carter was unable to muster a berry heavier than an Ann Archer of 22 pennyweights 21 grains to gain third place.
Martin said: “I still have a lot to learn, but the key seems to start off with a very good soil, good trees and keeping them constantly cool and moist and protecting them from the variability of our climate. The weather has certainly been challenging through the ripening stages with changes in temperature and rainfall. It seems to be just a question of being vigilant and trying to keep growing conditions uniform as possible.”
Another relatively new grower, Griselda Garner, surprised members when she walked away with four silver trophies, including the Frank Carter Cup for most points in the show from various classes. Her premier Edith Cavell berry of 20 pennyweights five grains placed seventh.
She put her success down to the quality of soil tilled for 4,000 years at her Blackden home, where the late legendary Goostrey grower Frank Carter raised award-winning gooseberries.
Weights in surrounding villages fared much better than Goostrey with world champion Kelvin Archer defeated at Lower Withington by John Porter with an entry of 34 pennyweights eight grains. Ironically the show stopping berry named Ann Archer was from a variety originally raised by Kelvin and named after his wife.
Eight-year-old Joe Banks Williams won the junior place for the second year for the Dave Garrett Memorial Cup, beating entries from two other youngsters, Grady Alderdice and Cori Lee.
Show president Terry’s hope of retaining the silver trophy for the premier place was thwarted when a berry of more than 30 pennyweights burst a little more than a week before the event.
The show itself was well up to its usual enjoyable, competitive spirit and anyone living in Goostrey and neighbouring parishes is invited to join and help to retain the village pastime.
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Goostrey Gooseberry
Premier Berry 1st Martin de Kretser Blackden Gem 23.19
2nd Emma Williams Millenium 23.13
3rd Doug Carter Ann Archer 22.21
4th Terry Price Blackden Firs 21.20
5th Cath Heath Edith Cavell 21.11
6th Chris Jones Edith Cavell 20.13
7th Griselda Garner Edith Cavell 20.05
8th Derek Hardacre Belmarsh 20.01
9th Stewart Smallwood Prince Charles 19.10
10th Bob Groves Blackden Gem 17.10
11th Gareth Buckley Mr Chairman 16.22
12th Richard Cunliffe Blackden Gem 16.09
13th Nick Hassall Millenium 15.20
14th Graham Lenihan Just Betty 7.23
Twins 1st Griselda Garner Just Betty 33.02
2nd Emma Williams Belmarsh 28.17
3rd Nick Hassall Just Betty 26.15
4th Doug Carter Montrose 25.17
5th Gareth Buckley Christine 21.16
6th Martin de Kretser Fascination 20.12
7th Richard Cunliffe Blackden Gem 17.20
8th Bob Groves Jodrell Bank 17.16
9th Graham Lenihan Edith Cavell 10.09
Red 1st Terry Price Christine 20.09
2nd Griselda Garner Blackden Gem 20.01
3rd Griselda Garner Just Betty 19.20
4th Terry Price Blackden Gem 18.16
5th Martin de Kretser Blackden Gem 17.07
6th Martin de Kretser Blackden Gem 17.01
7th Bob Groves Blackden Gem 17.00
8th Doug Carter Blackden Gem 15.22
9th Doug Carter Blackden Gem 14.22
10th Derek Hardacre Christine 14.14
Yellow 1st Terry Price Millenium 21.20
2nd Terry Price Millenium 21.15
3rd Chris Jones Edith Cavell 20.11
4th Emma Williams Millenium 20.09
5th Emma Williams Millenium 20.05
6th Cath Heath Edith Cavell 19.10
7th Griselda Garner Edith Cavell 19.03
8th Griselda Garner Edith Cavell 19.02
9th Cath Heath Edith Cavell 18.15
10th Doug Carter Montrose 18.11
Green 1st Griselda Garner Woodside 19.14
2nd Griselda Garner Woodside 19.09
3rd Chris Jones Bank View 18.11
4th Doug Carter Bank View 18.01
5th Derek Hardacre Bank View 16.21
6th Doug Carter Bank View 14.14
7th Richard Cunliffe Seedling 14.04
8th Chris Jones Bank View 14.02
9th Richard Cunliffe Seedling 13.07
10th Emma Williams Admiral Beatty 8.18
White 1st Emma Williams Belmarsh 21.08
2nd Emma Williams Belmarsh 20.08
3rd Griselda Garner Crystal 18.12
4th Martin de Kretser Jodrell White 17.21
5th Martin de Kretser Jodrell White 17.19
6th Doug Carter Newton Wonder 17.14
7th Griselda Garner Crystal 17.08
8th Doug Carter Newton Wonder 16.20
9th Gareth Buckley Newton Wonder 15.00
10th Gareth Buckley Newton Wonder 13.19
Championship Show Plate 1st Emma Williams Millenium
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