CHAMPION grower Lee Warhurst looked to the sky this season to hit a winning streak at the Lower Withington Gooseberry Show.

Lee, who won the show two years ago with a monster Millennium berry of 35 pennyweights 2 grains, regained the title with his premier berry at Swettenham Club on Saturday.

His Anne Archer, originally raised by several times world champion grower Kelvin Archer, of 32 pennyweights 11 grains, tipped the scales to take the silver trophy.

READ > Summer festival offers Knutsford families free day out this Saturday

But although the weight was down on his monster berry of 2021, Lee was delighted at the result in what has not been an easy year for growers.

Knutsford Guardian: Lee with his trophy and winning berry Lee with his trophy and winning berry (Image: Lower Withington Gooseberry Show Show/Lee Warhurst)

Lee admitted he faced lots of growing problems but he had persevered through hot days and torrential rain to step up from his second place last year.

Lee said: "I've spent a lot of time shading them from the sun and covering them from thunderstorms.

"This doesn't always pay off but this year it certainly has.

"I thought I had a chance when I found I had five large berries of which three were over thirty pennyweights."

Lee hopes to continue his success with an even heavier contender at the Marton show this Saturday.