Four world records were broken and at least one UK record at the UK National Giant Vegetable Championships, sponsored by CANNA, which took place last month at the Malvern Autumn Show. Entries were up 20% on last year with over 360 from nearly 80 competitors.
2016 saw two new categories introduced, Heaviest Bell Pepper and Heaviest Red Cabbage and it is in this category that one of the world records was set. Triple world record holder David Thomas from Hayle in Cornwall, beat the previous record by over 4.5kg with his monster red cabbage weighing in at a staggering 23.2kg, the same weight as the average seven year old child. This record has stood for over 90 years, set by Mr R Straw in 1925.
Martyn Davis, official judge for the Championships and National Vegetable Society representative said: “We are delighted to confirm that David Thomas is officially the title holder of World’s Heaviest Red Cabbage and has broken the previous record by such an impressive amount. We’re thrilled that David’s colossal cabbage and the other record breakers have added such fantastic interest to the whole competition at Malvern Autumn Show.”
Other world record breakers included: World’s Longest Carrot, 6.245m; World’s Longest Beetroot, 7.956m; and World’s Longest Radish, 5.023m, all grown by Joe Atherton from Mansfield. A UK record for the Heaviest Kobra Gourd was set by Peter Marston at 16.92kg.
Champion grower, David Thomas said: “I couldn’t be happier, it makes all the work even more worthwhile when you’re awarded a world record and to now have a hat trick of them is fantastic. I can’t wait to get cracking on next year’s crop and see what that might bring.”