Top of Africa
Club member Tony Williams successfully climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak in a six-day trek. He told his fellow members at Holt that he managed to spend 10 minutes at the peak in early March in temperatures of -17C and further severe wind chill. His climb raised more than £2,500 for Norfolk’s cancer charity, the Big C. And the 69-year-old even received a special certificate for the ascent – much to his delight, given that he was 20 years older than others in his nine-strong group. He was thanked by Ken Leggett, another well-known Himalyan climber and club member.
Entry added: 12 Oct 2016 |
Craft brew boom
Top quality Norfolk malting barley was in demand around the world, said grain merchant and club member Chris Borrett, of Adams & Howling. Although the weather had been challenging, especially for winter crops, he told Holt members that the county was well placed to meet this rising global demand. There were now 1,900 breweries in Britain – an increase of 1,230 in the past 10 years. And in Norfolk, there were now 40 brewers, he added. He strongly supported an initiative to register and promote Norfolk as the county, which produced the country’s premier malting barley.
Entry added: 12 Oct 2016 |
West will meet East
Stalham’s top barley sample will face stiff competition from Holt & District Farmers' Club's supreme champion. The winner, picked by Bob King, commercial director of Crisp Malting Group, was Melton Harrold with a sample of Husky spring barley. It was grown at Church Farm, Heacham – where the 1989 national malting barley champion was produced. Club members should bring wheat and barley samples to the November 16 meeting or leave them at Sands Agricultural Machinery.
Entry added: 12 Oct 2016 |
Autumn programme starts
Opening visit - Wednesday, October 19 - 6.30pm for 7pm.
Pasta Foods, Forest Way, Longwater, Costessey. (opposite the King George VI Gate, Norfolk showground)
A behind-the-scenes visit to an expanding business of interest to cereal and potato grower members.
Numbers strictly limited - Please let the secretary if you'd like to join the party by Monday at the latest.
Telephone - email michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997
Inter-county quiz - Monday, October 31, 7pm at Easton College.
Team of six from across the county will be competing in the annual quiz. There is a light supper and plenty of fun questions.
If you'd like to take part in a team of six, please let the secretary know.
Competition update - Grain competitions - Samples needed for the wheat and barley cups. Please bring to the first meeting on November 16 or if easier, deliver Sands Agricultural Machinery, thanks to Neal Sands.
The two beet competitions - two-acre and whole crop - have been judged. There were 14 entries for the whole crop and the judge, Ken Matthews, who was accompanied by the secretary, walked more than 550 acres of beet.
And there was considerable variation in the best two-acre competition, which was judged by Sarah Bebb, area manager for British Sugar. Many thanks to her for giving her time in the busy run-up to the start of the annual beet campaign. The club appreciates her efforts.
In the potato cup, every entrant had a different variety - a challenge for the judge, Denis Walsh, of Greenvale AP.
Results will be announced at the club's annual dinner - Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
Going to the dogs - A deposit has been paid for the trip to Yarmouth stadium on Friday, December 9. If you'd like to join the evening, please let me know. Tickets cost £37 per head for the deluxe evening, which includes generous hospitality. And one member, who went last year, said that it was good fun and an excellent evening. Numbers are limited, so early application to the secretary is advised.
Entry added: 11 Oct 2016 |
The late Roger Beck
A former president, Roger Beck, who has died peacefully aged 89, was a great supporter of the club. He was elected president in 2000 and held the club's most senior position until handing over to a great friend, David Ritchie, in 2010. He was one of the club's two honorary life vice-presidents.
Roger, who had lived at Brunstead Hall, near Stalham, before moving to Hoveton, was a great supporter of club competitions and especially sugar beet - taking a lead in helping the judging and lifting of roots for many years.
Although his health had been declining in the past couple of years, he was always a regular at the club's annual dinner and other competitions including the annual bowls match against Holt.
Funeral arrangements to be announced. Entry added: 02 Oct 2016 |
Graham's charity bike to South Africa------------------------
Veterinary surgeon and intrepid bike rider Graham Duncanson has reached Greece on the latest stage of his fund-raising adventure. The Stalham Farmers' Club member has clocked about 3,100 miles to date since leaving Norfolk en route to Cape Town, South Africa. And already, he has raised about £1,000 towards a £10k target for the charity, the Animal Welfare Foundation. Graham decided on this challenge partly to mark his official retirement after 50 years' as a veterinary surgeon and he is writing a regular blog, vetduncdares If you would like to contribute then go to www.justgiving.com/Graham-Duncanson. Incidentally, the total bike journey will be in the order of 13,200 miles from Blickling Hall, which is the notional start of this expedition.
Entry added: 27 Sep 2016 |
Variety challenge
Potato judge Denis Walsh, of Greenvale AP, survived a high-speed blowout on the AI at Snetterton. As he was driving towards Norwich, one of the rear tyres sustained a sudden puncture. When had managed to come to a halt, the complete tyre was shredded. He was able to change the tyre - by using a "baby" spare. Interestingly for the second year running, members had entered a total of eight different varieties - Estima, Ivory Russet, Markies, Fontane, Heraclea, Challenger, Royal and Rooster. Again the standard was very high, which gave the judge quite a challenge But surprisingly even the non-irrigated crops had produced some good quality. However tuber size generally reflected the growing conditions. The results will be announced at the annual dinner.
Entry added: 21 Sep 2016 |
Big beet entry
Beet judge Ken Matthew inspected more than 550 acres of sugar beet for the club's whole crop competition. And a total of 14 entries were received covering fields from Horsham St Faiths to Roughton and across to Ormesby. There was quite a variation although as ever only a handful of points split the top half a dozen placings. Mr Matthews modified his scoring to reflect the overall importance of establishment and crop management and reduced the percentage of marks for "bolting" by half. As he noted, when all the fields have virtually no bolters, it is obviously more sensible to reflect attention to detail in terms of plant numbers.
He was accompanied by the secretary, Michael Pollitt, on the visits on Tuesday, September 13 - when many crops were clearly hit by the drought. The results will be announced at the annual dinner in March.
The two-acre beet competition will be judged early next month before the Cantley beet sugar factory opens.
Entry added: 21 Sep 2016 |
Funeral service for Peter Boardman:
A longstanding member of Stalham Farmers' Club, the late Peter Boardman, generously hosted the 175th anniversary summer drinks party at How Hill Farm in June. It was a glorious evening and amazingly for June, the sun shone as about 300 members and guests celebrated.
Peter, who was 84, died on Friday, September 2. His father was also secretary to the club in the 1930s. A funeral service will be held at Ludham Church on Friday, September 23 (2pm) and afterwards at How Hill Farm. Our best wishes to his family and friends and he will be especially missed at the club's annual dinner, which he always attended.
His obituary can be read in the Club Officers section on the left.
Entry added: 06 Sep 2016 |
The late Peter Boardman.
It is with much sadness that Peter Boardman died earlier today, Friday, September 2. He had spent a great day at the Aylsham Show on Bank Holiday Monday. Details of the funeral arrangements to follow.
Entry added: 04 Sep 2016 |