You might have spotted some odd behaviour in this recent spell of dry and hot weather in and around Egton and the Esk Valley.
Umbrellas in gardens despite it not raining, the shooing of birds half a street away, and an intense scrutiny of old-fashioned weighing scales and a rule book that is actually older than the hills (or some of them anyway).
Few things make country folk nervous – but the run up to one of the most unusual events in the country – held right here in Egton is up there.
A tenth of a gram can be the difference between winning or a world record. Picking at the wrong time or unfavourable weather can render the exhibits mush or even worse – disqualified.
It may well be in its 226th year, but Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show still leaves grown men pacing in anticipation.
The aim is simple and the same each year – the heaviest berry wins.
The competition has a number of categories – heaviest white gooseberry, green gooseberry, red gooseberry and yellow gooseberry.
There are also categories for heaviest of all four colours, heaviest six, heaviest 12, heaviest maiden, maiden twins (two from the same stalk), heaviest twins, heaviest maiden, champion berry.
The much sought-after title of champion grower goes to whoever has the most points across the competition.
This year the prize went the way of John Leng for the first time. He has been growing gooseberries, various fruits and vegetables for years, and competing at Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show for 30 years.
He said: “It was quite a surprise you know. Champion grower and champion berry usually come together. I have never won that either but I am pleased.
“It is hard every year to grow them but it really comes down to the weather. It has been too hot this year as gooseberries prefer fresher weather, but it has been the same for everybody.”
Although John, of Lonsdale near Great Ayton has entered produce classes at other shows, he says Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show allows you to check if you are improving each year as you can compare the weights year on year.
“It will take a bit to top this next year though”, he added.
When asked what happens next to his prize-winning gooseberries, John said: “They are so ripe and sweet now, I will eat them.”
The Bryan Nellist Trophy for heaviest yellow berry was won by, the man himself, Bryan Nellist with a Millennium yellow berry weighing 27 drams and 27 grains.
Another first time winner was Peter Fishpool of Glaisdale. He has been entering the competition for coming up 30 years.
He won champion berry for a red Kingfisher weighing 29 drams and six grains.
He said: “It is my personal best but I didn’t think it would win. It has not been a very good growing year with the heat. I have had winners over the years and heaviest red berry but this is the best I have done.”
Sharing his secret to success this year, Peter added: “You need to give them a bit of water, but not too much or they will split. You can give them too much and by the time you come back from work, they have split.”
The competition is thought to have started in 1800 as news reports from 1900 referred to it celebrating its centenary. Competitive gooseberry growing was so popular in the 19th century, there was a national publication called The Gooseberry Growers Register. In 1843 the register listed 148 shows.
By 1845 there were 171 shows, but gooseberry growing and showing declined in the latter 1800s.
Not helped by the First World War, in 1915 there were eight shows listed, and the following year the register ceased to be published.
Nowadays, The Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society is one of a handful of gooseberry societies still going, with the others being based in Cheshire.
Graeme Watson hold the world record for growing the heaviest gooseberry. At last year’s show he presented a yellow Millenium variety, weighing in at 65.59 grams. He also held the previous world record set in 2019.
Show rules have also stuck since 1800.
You have to be a paid up member of the Society by the Easter of show year to enter and the berry entries have to be presented by 12 noon.
One year, one contestant was 10 minutes late. He lived away, lost his car keys then set off for Egton, got a flat tyre en route, fixed it, set off again and was ten minutes late to the show. While some were sympathetic to his cause and were willing to let him enter, the long-standing rule was upheld and he wasn’t allowed to enter.
The following year he brought his berries the night before.
The same weighing scales have been used since 1936.
Contestants, locals and the hundreds of visitors who turn up at Egton Manor, and St Hedda’s School before, come with such affection and joy for the unique event.
Peter Fishpool added: “It is rare, local and we need to keep things like that going.”
Full Results As Follows…
Champion Berry and winner of the R Harland Challenge Cup
P Fishpool, Red Kingfisher, 29 drams, 6 grains
Black CAT Trophy for heaviest red berry
First place, P Fishpool, Kingfisher, 29 drams, 6 grains; Second place, A Hall, Lloyd George,
21 drams, 22 grains; Third place, C Plummer, Lloyd George, 19 drams, 21 grains
Bryan Nellist Trophy for heaviest yellow berry
First place, B Nellist, Millennium, 27 drams, 27 grains; Second place, P Riley, Millennium, 27
drams, 15 grains; Third place, PW Bennison, Millennium, 25 drams, 0 grains
J & A Hart Cup for heaviest green berry
First place, GP Watson, Bank View, 24 drams, 10 grains; Second place, D Fishpool, Bank
View, 15 drams, 16 grains; Third place, M de Kretser, Bank View, 14 drams, 20 grains
Bennison Trophy for heaviest white berry
First place, JA Leng, Belmarsh, 26 drams, 0 grains; Second place, TW Legg, Belmarsh, 25
drams, 5 grains; Third place, J Hart, Belmarsh, 22 drams, 0 grains
Dr & Mrs Hyatt Rose Bowl for Maidens
First prize, P Riley, Millennium, 27 drams, 15 grains; Second prize P Stonehouse,
Millennium, 24 drams, 3 grains; Third prize, C Milns, Millennium, 21 drams, 9 grains
The Marra Cup for Best Beaten Berry
L Warhurst, Millennium, 24 drams, 10 grains
TW Ventress Plate for twin berries
First place, P Riley, Yellow, Millennium, 40 drams, 9 grains; Second place, JA Leng, Green,
Bank View, 37 drams, 6 grains; Third prize, A Hall, White, Belmarsh, 36 drams, 10 grains
Miss May Novice Cup for Maiden twins
First place, P Riley, Yellow, Millennium, 40 drams, 9 grains; Second place, P Stonehouse, White, Belmarsh, 28 drams, 19 grains; Third place, C Milns, red, Lloyd George, 23 drams, 4grains
JE Raw Trophy for heaviest plate of 12 berries
First place, JA Leng, 17 oz, 10 drams, 13 grains; Second place, P Riley, 17 oz, 9 drams, 17
grains; Third place, B Nellist, 17 oz, 4 drams, 14 grains
H Welford Cup for heaviest plate of 6 berries
First place, P Riley, 8 oz, 13 drams, 22 grains; Second place, A Hall, 8 oz, 8 drams, 18
grains; Third place, PW Bennison, 8 oz, 8 drams, 17 grains
J Spenceley Cup for heaviest plate of 6 berries by a maiden grower
P Riley, 8 oz, 13 drams, 22 grains
RD Swales Memorial Cup for four colours
Mrs A Hart, 3 oz, 3 drams, 13 grains
Colin Gray Memorial Trophy for the Champion Grower
JA Leng with 49 points out of 60
