SHOW secretary Jim Hart retained his title at the Allostock Gooseberry Show event on Saturday, with a winning Millennium berry weighing 27 pennyweights and six grains.

In a difficult growing season which has seen shows across mid Cheshire produce smaller berries, Jim’s 18 years of experience shone through as he took the Wilfred Lea Cup for the heaviest premier berry of the year.

The show, held at The Crown at Lower Peover, attracted two new members to the society.

Jim said: “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves – it’s a good day for all involved with a lovely meal, so everyone’s happy.

“We had two new members who enjoyed themselves, and the landlady of the pub presented the cups. We gave her some flowers as a thank you, to make her smile. We have already booked to return next year.

“We only had one member who didn’t show any berries. Sometimes in difficult seasons the more experienced growers manage to find one or two in the end. I am certainly in it to win it.”

Tough conditions have impacted a host of gooseberry shows this season, with Jim putting it down to the ever-unpredictable English climate.

“I went down heavily on greens and we saw a lot of people down on reds,” he said.

“It was that very hot weather earlier in the year which made the trees think it was time to ripen, and of course once they ripen they stop growing. It came too early.

“The same has happened to a lot of people in a lot of clubs.”

In a near-clean sweep, Jim also scooped prizes for the most points gained, most points gained in colour berry classes and heaviest twins.

Colin King won the Heaviest Lord Derby Plate, while Peter Riley claimed the Les Palmer Goblet for the second heaviest premier berry, a 26.15 Montrose.

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Heaviest berry recorded: Doug Carter (Woodpecker), 36.19.

Wilfred Lea Cup for the heaviest premier berry: Jim Hart (Millennium) 27.03.

Jim Lander Cup for the champion show plate: Jim Hart (Millennium).

Whitbread Trophy for the most points gained: Jim Hart Jim Whitehurst Cup for the heaviest twins: Jim Hart Jim Eyres Bowl for the heaviest Firbob twins: Jim Hart Jim Whitehurst Cup for heaviest Lord Derby plate: Colin King Ken Healey Cup for the most points gained in colour berry classes: Jim Hart Les Palmer Goblet for second heaviest premier berry: Peter Riley (Montrose), 26.15.

Premier berries: 1st - Jim Hart (Millennium), 27.03; 2nd - Peter Riley (Montrose), 26.15; 3rd - Colin King (Edith Cavell), 20.22; 4th - John Hardy (Millennium), 20.00; 5th George Hughes (Montrose), 19.19; 6th - Peter Buckles (Edith Cavell), 18.16; 7th - Terry Price (Woodpecker), 18.14; 8th - Julia Wilson (Lord Derby), 15.09; 9th - Richard Hill (Montrose), 12.21; 10th - Fay Jones (Lord Derby), 6.23; no berries - Vincent Southern.

Twins: 1st - Jim Hart (Millennium), 37.06; 2nd - George Hughes (Montrose), 24.17; 3rd - John Hardy (Lloyd George), 24.12; 4th - Julia Wilson (Lord Derby), 21.04; 5th - Fay Jones (Hind Red), 5.05.

Red: 1st - Jim Hart (Just Betty), 17.22; 2nd - Jim Hart (Lloyd George), 17.06; 3rd - Colin King (Lord Derby), 17.01. Show plate - Colin King (Lord Derby) Yellow: 1st - Jim Hart (Millennium), 26.23; 2nd - Jim Hart (Millennium), 26.03; 3rd - Colin King (Edith Cavell), 20.11. Show plate - Peter Riley (Montrose) Green: 1st - Peter Riley (Bank View), 18.03; 2nd - Terry Price (Woodside), 16.21; 3rd - Jim Hart (Woodside), 15.21. Show plate - Julia Wilson (Admiral Beattie) White: 1st - Jim Hart (Bellmarsh), 23.06; 2nd - Jim Hart (Bellmarsh), 23.04; 3rd - Terry Price (Mr Chairman), 18.00. Show plate - George Hughes (Jodrell White) Best beaten berry: Jim Hart (Millennium), 26.00.

Assorted show plate: John Hardy