Ringing the changes

There was some discussion recently about reducing class quantities at the National Championships, specifically from 5 to 3 for things like blanch leeks, long carrots, long beet and parsnips. The 'dinosaurs' won the day and it's not something that will be adopted for now but I hope they'll think again in future. Over the years other veg have been reduced, such as runner beans from 18 to 12 for instance. At Llangollen there were only 3 entries in the blanch leek class, so surely having 5 entries of 3 would look better than having 3 entries of 5???

The old fogies argument was that 'BUT IT'S THE NATIONAL' and that it should be harder to win. Well of course it fecking well would be....the best growers would still be there but they wouldn't have to stretch themselves so much, and the likes of myself would be tempted to have a crack. As it is I cannot see myself ever attempting blanch leeks, long beet or long carrots when I might have to pull half my crop of long roots for instance. Some of us don't have vast rolling acres with dozens of raised beds and drums. What are they gonna do when there is one or even no entries in a class? The argument really doesn't wash i'm afraid. When a team reaches the FA Cup Final they don't suddenly have to play the game over 180 minutes just because 'IT'S THE FA CUP FINAL!'




I've said many times before that show organisers should reduce quantities if they want to increase interest, and in village shows this means reducing from 3 to 2 if necessary. The benefit is two-fold. The guy who perhaps only grows one barrel has a chance of finding a set of two, and the more experienced guy who grows several barrels will continue supporting his local show if he only has to sacrifice a pair and can save the rest of his crop for the bigger shows that he likes to have a go at. I've been on several show committees where the long carrot class was declining and after we changed it to a pair from a set of 3 numbers started to rise. It certainly looks much better on the benches and makes the judge earn his corn too. In my opinion, things like cabbages should be reduced to a single specimen for village shows.



However, to be fair to the NVS they have introduced a new class this year for 15 pointer veg and below, according the latest magazine 'Simply Veg'. In an effort to try and encourage new growers to have a crack this year it will be table marrows (a pair?) which leads me to believe the choice of vegetable will change from year to year (can anyone clarify this?). I wasn't going to bother with marrows this season but I may have to rethink my plans now I know this, although I don't think i'll be growing Blyton Belle any more as I've found it a little shy to produce fruits the last couple of seasons. Whatever happens, I reckon we'll all have to beat Marcus Powell who won the Midlands last year with these Bush Baby, the best pair of marrows i've seen for quite some time.