Orchard Park, Gillingham 2007

27th October 2007
Grand Mangold Wurzel Event at
Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham, Dorset

Earlier in the year, local people had been invited to enter a contest to see who could grow the heaviest mangold.  This was  the day of reckoning! Members of the Mangold Hurling Association were on hand to answer questions and give visitors the chance to try their hand at hurling.

Mangold Display at Orchard park

The display of mangolds and hurling paraphernalia at Orchard Park
Mangold Display at Orchard park

Owner Sheila Clarke surveys the entries while a member of the Mangold Hurling Association smiles at the camera.
Mangold Display at Orchard park
A senior entrant with his mangold

This gentleman produced some particularly fine specimens. Many of the older visitors remembered working on the farm, chopping mangolds by hand for cattle feed.
Mangold Display at Orchard park

Above: A committee member assists Managing Director Richard Cumming with the weighing.

Left:  A crowd gathers as the weigh-in commences.
A junior entrant with his mangold

The winner of one of the junior categories accepts his prize. Perhaps he will be inspired to form a local Mangold Hurling Club in years to come.
A senior entrant with his mangold

The winning mangold is announced, weighing in at a respectable 7.015 Kg after making allowance for the absence of foliage.
A senior entrant with his mangold A senior entrant with his mangold

The prizegiving.

Richard Cumming having a go - not bad for a beginner!