Stalham Farmers’ Club in Norfolk presents its 2024 awards

John McLeod, of East Ruston, won the supreme inter-club malting barley trophy with a sample of Maris Otter variety, beating a sample of Laureate from Melton Harrold, of Holt and District Farmers’ Club.

Stalham’s champion barley entry caught the eye of judge Rebecca Gee, of the Crisp Malting Group, capping a superb evening for winning farm manager David Pickering.

Mr McLeod, who celebrated his 80th birthday but was unable to attend the annual dinner at the Lodge, Salhouse, has now won Stalham’s wheat cup nine times out of the past 10 years to add to his haul of trophies.

Stalham Farmers’ Club awards 2024. Pictured, Thomas Love, left, with Mark Nicholas (Image: Simon Finlay)

Former club president Thomas Love, of nearby Walcott Farms, won both sugar beet competitions, for the best two acre and the best whole crop.

He was presented with two trophies by guest speaker Mark Nicholas, managing director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA).

The Potato Cup was won by Tim Papworth, who farms at Felmingham, with a crop of Galante, ahead of Thomas and William Love’s Walcott Farms.

Stalham Farmers’ Club has presented its 2024 awards. Pictured, Tim Papworth, left, with the Potato Trophy, and Mark Nicholas (Image: Simon Finlay)

The retiring chairman, William Sands, said he was pleased that there were twice as many at the annual dinner than the previous year, with 115 members and guests attending.

As he stood down at the end of his two-year term, he handed the chairman’s gavel to his successor, Jonathan Pye.

Stalham Farmers’ Club 2024 awards. Pictured, Retiring chairman William Sands, right, hands the gavel to his successor Jonathan Pye (Image: Simon Finlay)

Mr Sands also thanked the competition judges - Robin Baines for potatoes, Chris Borrett of Adams and Howling for the grain and Sam Summers of British Sugar for the sugar beet crop.

Full results as follows. Barley: 1, Milligen Mcleod (Maris Otter); 2, CN Beck & Son (Diablo); 3, John Key (Maris Otter). Wheat: 1, Milligen Mcleod (Redrum); 2, HBS Farms, (Dawsum); 3, CN Beck & Son (Insitor). Sugar beet, Best two-acre: 1, Walcott Farms; 2, Milligen McLeod (Waxham); 3, CN Beck & Son. Sugar beet, Whole crop: 1, Walcott Farms; 2, HBS Farms; 3, Milligen McLeod. Potato Cup: 1, LF Papworth (Galante); 2, Walcott Farms (Innovator); 3, LF Papworth (Alexandra) and James Harrison (Ivory Russet).