In the red corner, and still the disputed BBC heavyweight champion....

Considering the year we've all had the quality and quantity on display at Harrogate today was simply awesome. Of course, I retained my BBC crown against the Huddersfield and Ingleton YMCA, although it was closer on points than I would have liked, and I was saved by my 17 out of 20 scoring celery. I actually lost out on a ticket in this class and the 6x1 class by 1/2 a point, signifying that I am heading in the right direction and bridging the gap between myself and the very best. This was the first show where I certainly felt my produce deserved to be in the same company.

Best moment for me was a dizzying 5th place in the National Carrot Championships (pic below), my long carrots scoring 16 out of 20, half a point off the best scoring set. I even outscored 6th place Dave Thornton. I secured a 4th place ticket in the tap root collection, beating Dave again.

However, I was gazzumped by my protege Paul Wlodarczak who achieved an incredible second in the National Carrot Championships, going one better to win the tap root class and french beans. I fully expect to go back on Sunday to help peel him off the ceiling as he was as high as a kite!

Honourable mentions to Dan who was 3rd in the onion class and Paul Bastow who was 3rd for the second year running in the 250g onion class. I heard several stories of growers holding back their best stuff for the National. If that's true then Malvern is going to be amazing.