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Graham Hunt Takes World Championship
 | Extract From the Front Page of the Northern Echo 1989
" Leek Champ's whopping win - gardener Graham Hunt has beaten rivals from all over the Country to clinch a World Championship and a top prize of £1300.
His Prizewinning leeks were sized up at 278.71 cu. inches for three in the World Open Leek Championships held at Ashington this weekend.
And last night Mr Hunt, of Eden Lane, Gainford, was awarded the cheque - his biggest prize so far - and a cut glass engraved decanter at a prizegiving ceremony.
'I didn't expect to win. Last year I had a lot of my leeks stolen. After that I spent a lot of time watering them', said Mr Hunt, a supervisor at Northumbrian Water in Darlington.
Contestants travelled from all over the country - some from as far away as Somerset - for the championships at Ashington's Northern Social Club, sponsored by Newcastle Exhibition."
(Editor's Note - The Cross Keys Leek Club is proud to record that Graham Hunt was one of its members). |
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Leek Men from Cross Keys take Champion-of-Champions Title
 | The Teesdale Mercury 30-9-1992
"A team from the Cross Keys Leek Club in Gainford took first prize in the Champion of Champions Leek Show on Sunday with a score of 95. In second place was the Black Horse, Ingleton with 71 points. Third was the Lord Nelson of Gainford with 66, and fourth was the Top Twenty team from Summerhouse with 58 points.
Stewart Newton of Gainford won the award for best single leek, to add to the 2 others he received at the Cross Keys and Top Twenty shows.
Graham Hunt of Eden Lane Gainford gained a trophy with a magnificent stand of trench leeks measuring 207.1 cu. inches.
The judge was Mr Bill Linsley of Coundon.
The Champion of Champions event proved highly popular once again.
At the Cross Key's own show, there was a record number of leeks, vegetables and flowers. The leek title was taken by David Hunt, in his first season. Stewart Newton and John Challen both had a sucessful show, following their victories last year.John Youds took the trophy for the most improved leek grower. The full list of trophy winners was:- best leek - Stewart Newton, whom also colected the awards for best onion, best tray and best trench leek. Most vegetable points - John Challen, who also took the awards for most flower points, best exhibit, and most points overall."
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Top Twenty Club Growers Take Big Leek Show Title
Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 29-9-1993
Growers from the Top Twenty Club at Summerhouse took the inter-club championship at their big annual leek competition at the weekend.
They scored 124 points, with Black Horse of Ingleton second with 120. The three Gainford clubs came next - Cross Keys 85 points, Queens Head 75, and Lord Nelson with 60. |
Good Old Farmyard Manure Helps Trevor Fox to set a Club Record
 | From the Teesdale Mercury 21-9-1994
"Trevor Fox took the main award in the Leek Show at the Cross Keys, Gainford, with a superb pair that measured 186.29, a record for the club.
He expained how he fed them: 'I use some good farmyard manure. It has to be around 2 years old -not less and not much more'.
Trevor was also awarded tha Ann and Peter Nicholson Cup for the best onions from seed.
Mike Caton took the trophy for long leeks. His pair were described by the judge, Bill Linsley of Coundon, as the best he had ever judged. Mike also won the Ken Hodgson Cup for the best exhibit in the show, and the award for the best single leek. John Challen received the Inman Trophy for most points overall, as well as two cups for most vegetable points, and most flower points. He also took the Betty Hodgson trophy for the best tray of vegetables." |
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 | | Mike Caton with his Grandson Lee, and the Long Leeks |
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Sweeping The Board at Cross Keys Leek Show
Extract from D & S Times 18-9-1993
The Cross Keys Leek Club at Gainford held its annual show on Saturday, and ten trophies were up for competition.
John Challen took the leek competion with a stand of 164.6 cu. inches, and also trophies for the best onions from seed, best long leeks, best tray, most points for vegetables, and most points overall.
Mike Caton took the cup for most points in flowers and the cup for best leek in show. Dave Gullon took the trophy for the most improved grower in only his second season of showing.
Also showing was Malcolm Stocks, who had a short spell at the Cross Keys as landlord before moving back to his native Leeds in early summer. This was Mr Stock's first season of showing and after planting out in a Gainford trench, a friend kept his leeks watered. He returned for the show on Saturday, showing a very creditable 99.8 cu. inches. Mr Stocks commented - In my short time at Gainford, I really got the leek bug, and I have now started a leek club at my new pub, The Woodman in Leeds." |
Trevor Fox Wins the Inter-Club Pot Leek Award
Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 28-9-1994
There was great interest in the annual inter-club leek competition at the Cross Keys, Gainford on Sunday. The standard was exceptionally high, with 22 of the 29 stands of pot leeks over the 100 cu. inches mark.
Trevor Fox of the Cross Keys was the winner of the pot leek section, taking his fourth top-three place in a row.
Second was Geoff Tennick of Gainford Leek Club (Queens Head), with Viv Tubby of the Top Twenty in third position. Viv Tubby took the award for best pot leek in the show. The Cross Keys took the inter-club trophy for pot leeks for the second time with 105 points, 2nd Black Horse, 3rd Gainford Leek Club, 4th Lord Nelson, 5th Top Twenty.
In the trench leek section, 1st place went to Albert Robson of the Black Horse, whilst 2nd and 3rd were Mike Caton and John Challen of the Cross Keys."
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Howard Finan Is Champion
 | Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 20-9-1995
Howard Finan won the top prize at the Cross Keys Leek Show in Gainford. The pair he grew at his garden at Balmer Hill were much admired. He also received the cup for the most improved grower.
John Challen received the cup for the best single leek. He also gained the awards for onions, most vegetable points and most points overall.
Trevor Fox of Killerby gained the award for the best intermediate leeks. The judge, Mr Bill Lindsey of Counden, said they would have won any show in the North East.They were named as best exhibit in show.
John Youds was presented with the trophy for most points in Flowers. |
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Trevor Fox takes Title and Trophy for Most Points
 | Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 25-9-1996
Trevor Fox captured the top prize at the Cross Keys Leek Club's Annual Show in Gainford. He was awarded the Nichols Cup for pot leek champion, as well as a trophy for gaining the most points in the flower section and the Sam Hunt Trophy for Trench Leeks.
David Hunt won the cup for best individual leek, while John Challen repeated last year's success by capturing the Inman Trophy for most points in Show. He also won a cup for most points in vegetable section and the Betty Hodgson trophy for the best tray of vegetables.
The Ann and Peter Nicholson Trophy for seed onions was awarded to David Gullon, and the Ken Hodgson Trophy for the Best Exhibit in Show went to Mike Caton for his decorative dahlias.
Many visitors attended the show. The judge was Mr Bill Linsley of Counden.
After the show, an auction of produce raised £162 which will be distributed to village charities.
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Trevor Fox Wins Leek Show for Second Year Running
 | Extract from Teesdale Mercury 17-9-1997
Trevor Fox won the main prize at the Cross Keys Leek Club Show in Gainford for the 2nd year running.His pair of pot leeks measured 175.6 cu. inches. They were down on those which won last year for Trevor, but were good for the weather conditions.
Second place went to Richard Pennel, who also took awards for the best leek in the show and most improved grower.
Jim Thompson took the award for the best seed onions and trench leeks. Mike Caton scored most flower points, most vegetable points and most points overall. Robert Hebdon gained the award for best exhibit, a vase of flowers. Don Eccles had the best rose, gaining a new cup in memory of John Youds. Judge was Mr Bill Lindsley of Counden.
An auction of produce raised a record £170.20. Ian Ross, new landlord of the Cross Keys, sponsored the sale, the proceeds which are to be donated to local charities. |
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Trevor Fox wins top prize at Leek Show for 3rd year on the trot
Extract from The Teesdale Mercury 16-9-1998
Trevor Fox won the Cross Keys Leek Show at Gainford for the third year running with a pair of pot leeks measuring 176.1 cu. inches, a shade up on last Autumn.
Trevor, who lives at Killerby, also gained the trophy for the best exhibit in show, a superb set of intermediate leeks, as well as a clutch of other prizes.
Dave Gullon had the best single pot leek in show, and his pair came second overall. Thrid place went to club chairman Frank Coop, who was also the most improved grower.
John Challen was awarded three trophies for most flower points, most vegetable points, and most points overall.
Bill Linsley of Counden, who has judged the show for several years, said the standard this year was exceptionally high.
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John Challen wins 25th Anniversary Show
Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 22-9-1999
John Challen was awarded the main trophy for two leeks at the Cross Keys Show in Gainford with a pair which the judge, Mr Bill Lindsley of Counden, said were good enough to win most village shows.
Dave Hunt took second place at an excellent show at which the members celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Leek Club. Mr Lindsley said that the oevrall standard was impressive.
John Challen also received the cup for most vegetable points. Club secretary Jim Thompson took the award for the best single leek. Alec Burnett gained the trophy for the trench leeks.
Mike Caton received the cup for the most improved leek grower as well as awards for most flower points and most show points overall. And his superb large decorative dahlias were judged best exhibit.
In our picture the men at the front are, from the left, Alec Burnett, John Challen, Chairman Frank Coop, Jim Thompson, and David Hunt. At the back are Mike caton, Derek I'Anson, Bill Linsley, Landlord Ian Ross and his wife Maureen, Robbie Hebdon, Audrey Hebdon, Robert Hebdon and Roy Logan.
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Bill celebrates 100th show
Extract from the Teesdale Mercury 20-9-2000
To mark his 100th show, judge Bill Linsley was presented with an engraved tankard and flowers by grateful organisers at the Cross Keys Leek Show in Gainford earlier this month.
Top prize went to John Challen with a pot leek pair measuring 145.4Cu. Inches, closely followed by Alec Burnett with 144.2 cu. inches. John won four trophies, and Alec took two for best leek and most improved grower. Best exhibit went to Frank Coop for a floral display.
Picture - Judge Bill Lindsley being presented with a tankard by Sharon Logan and top prizewinner John Challen (back) at Gainford Cross Keys to mark his 100th show. |  |
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| John Challen (left)with his leeks and Bill Lindsley. |  |
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