Growers show they know their onions (From Knutsford Guardian)

Growers show they know their onions

4:00pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

TOP onion growers from Cheshire descended on a 92-year-old man’s garden over the weekend to battle it out to be named the best in the region.

The Holmes Chapel Onion show was first held 28 years ago at the Victoria Club but is now held in the garden of show chairman Roy Bonnett on Hermitage Drive.

John Golding picked up the top prize with an onion weighing in at an impressive 4lb 1oz, while Greg Freer came second with a 3lb 10oz entry.

Maureen Bullen completed the top three with her onion coming in at 3lb 3oz.

The winning vegetable was then auctioned off at the Old Red Lion on Sunday evening in a raffle draw that raised money for the Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Roy, who turned 92 at the show on Saturday, September 1, said he decided to start it up again 12 years ago after it had fizzled out due to a lack of interest by villagers.

“At the first one 32 people entered but like a lot of things if people haven’t got a good onion then they can’t enter,” he said.

“When I started it up 12 years ago we only had two entries but this year we had 12.”

Winner John Golding told the Guardian it was the second time he had clinched the title.

“It’s a brilliant event and unfortunately these things are dying out but luckily Roy is keeping it going,” he said.

“We are trying to get younger members and my son-in-law won it last year and he is trying to get his mates involved.

“But you need to get the right seed for a good onion and start it off outside and prepare the ground in the garden in November and December with a lot of muck before planting in the spring.

“It was a lot smaller than last year but in all it was above average despite the weather. Water doesn’t do them any harm but the lack of sun doesn’t help.”