Man with massive marrow invites others to show off theirs

An enormous 30kg marrow and a metre-long carrot have netted their grower two coveted prizes at a local vegetable competition.

Mike Libby won the categories of longest carrot and heaviest marrow during judging at Stubton Village Hall in Lincolnshire.

Eleven hopefuls entered the competitive carrot category, with entries ranging in length from 170mm to an entire metre.

Mike took first place, followed by Ted Critchley and Cath Senior.

Mike said the longest carrot competition began as a small challenge between Ted Critchley and Ian Phillips before being opened up to the whole village around five years ago.

‘Certainly, when we kick it off, the whole village is told,’ Mike said.

Mike started the heaviest marrow challenge three years ago after being inspired by a friend who had a shop in the Lake District and was the north west giant marrow champion.

He said: ‘We went in a few years ago and he had this newspaper clipping displayed behind the counter of him with this giant marrow, which was nearly as big as he was.

‘So being a gardener, I was interested in that.

‘So we got to talking, and he gave me some seeds. So I invited other people in the village to have a go at growing a giant marrow.’

This year’s competition saw nine entries, with weights ranging from 8.5kg to 30.5kg, and the organiser took first place, followed by Lindsay Critchley and Tony Gelsthorpe.

Mike said the marrows were smaller than those entered last year, which he put down to the challenging weather.

He added that the giant marrows require a lot of space and that villagers are now ‘racking our brains’ to come up with other forms of competition.

He added: ‘The nice thing about the carrot and the potato competition that we run is that you can’t see until you unearth it.’

The potato-in-a-bucket competition attracted around 45 entrants, according to Mike.

The longest carrot and heaviest marrow competitions were measured and weighed by parish council chairman Sam Kirk, assisted by his son Ralph.

Ted Critchley said: ‘The weather has been particularly challenging for growers this year, but it’s all just for a bit of fun.’