Wheatsheaf Leek Club
If you ever call into the Wheatsheaf on a Tuesday evening and bump into a bunch of very large, loud, middle aged men, augmented by one woman (smaller, younger and shapelier, but just as loud!) in flat caps, you will have stumbled upon a meeting of the Leek Club. Since it’s founding in 2007 it has gone from strength to strength (more than can be said for some of the leeks!) with a membership, by strict invitation, largely drawn from Crowborough RFC. The prime aim is to grow the best leeks, not necessarily the largest (although size does matter - never mind the width, feel the quality), all in time for the annual leek show in early September. Well that was how it started anyway.
Under the direction of Founding Father Dave Pass (Judge) the Executive Committee, of which he is the sole member being Founder, Life President, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer and anything else he wants to be from time to time including he who appoints the Independent Show Judge, a number of ‘secondary aims’ have developed. These include a celebration of unique and original leek based recipes, and displays of leek artwork. Rather like the leeks themselves, these ‘exhibits’ vary from the simply horrible to the incredibly splendid. To this has been added the crowd favourite – WOLLOCS – the World Open Leek Launching Championship, words are inadequate but to see is to believe, so come along and see for yourself next year.
The Leek Show 2009
The biggest public turn out yet saw an even more impressive display of monster leeks, fantastically imaginative recipes (some of which were edible), artwork (some of which deserves to be hung), and the hilarious leek launching competition (WOLLOCS). Well done to all the lads and lasses, and especially the winners, who are:
| Best Leeks | ‘Stads’ Hamilton, as judged (most professionally) by Fat Phil from Ferryhill (that is up North, where they know a thing or two about leeks) |
| Best Recipe | ‘DaDoRonRon’ Ron Mills - as judged by a real chef - Leek Chartreuse would you believe, and the very brave chef reckoned it really did taste of leeks! |
| Best Artwork | ‘DaDoRonRon’ Ron Mills - as judged by someone who knows about these things – Ron’s ‘live art’ effort was Morris dancing with leeks. Eye-wateringly funny and he owes the East Hoathly Morris Men a few beers. |
Watch East Hoathly Morris Men debut their leek dance on YouTube !! Click on the picture to your right |
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And finally, the World Open Leek Launching Championship 2009 (WOLLOCS) World Champion ‘Panel Beater’ Chris Pugh – top Wollocker. As judged by common consent and the roar of the crowd sent his leek around 200ft in the air from a bright yellow ACME Leek Launcher Click here for the WOLLOCS rules of play |
Click on the leeks below for more Leek Club photographs in the Gallery
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