FARMERS set a high standard at the 2011 South Suffolk Crop Competition, in spite of unprecedented weather conditions.

Despite a long, spring drought followed by a very wet period through June and July, judges were impressed by the high quality of crops entered.

This year, the Crosse & Blackwell Cup for under 350 acres went to David Ford, of Alan Ford & Son, and the Pan Anglia Cup for 350 to 500 acres was scooped by David Simpson, of EW Simpson & Partners, The South Suffolk Association Cup for 500 to 800 acres was awarded to Andrew Newton, of GB Newton & Sons, and the Streetly Award for more than 800 acres was won by Rupert Brown, of John Brown & Son.

Another notable winner was K & R Rush Farms, which was placed first and second in fields of sugar beet over 25 acres. Great Bradley Farms Company, L Samworth & Partners, Alan Covey, Branwhite Farms Ltd, John Brown & Sons, RL Clifton-Brown & Sons, T Gittus & Son, GB Newton & Sons and Alan Ford & Son won certificates in at least four different classes.

The awards will be presented on November 10, at a dinner at Stoke-by-Nayland Golf & Country Club, with guest speaker land agent Roland Beaney, ex-president of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. The event is sponsored by Anglian Grain Services Ltd, Clydesdale Bank, Birkett Long Solicitors, Ensors Accountants, Nidera, Robins Row Ltd, UAP and Strutt & Parker LLP.

Chairman John Wayman, of Cavendish, and secretary Giles Allen, of Strutt & Parker, would like to thank the competition’s stewards and judges who came across East Anglia and generously gave their time to stewarding and judging the various crop classes.

The cup winners were: Crosse & Blackwell Cup: David Ford, Alan Ford & Son; Pan Anglia Cup: David Simpson, EW Simpson & Partners; South Suffolk Association Cup: Andrew Newton, GB Newton & Sons; The Streetly Award: Rupert Brown, John Brown & Sons: British Sugar Corporation Cup: David Simpson, EW Simpson & Partners; E J Cousins Cup: Robert Rush, K & R Rush Farms; Cramphorn Cup: Richard Chrystal, Chrystal Farms; Dalgety Cup: Neville Smith, WA Smith & Sons; Hart Fertiliser Cup: Roger Dennis, Dennis Home Farm Partnership; CK Squirrell & Sons Cup: John Philp, SJ Philp & Sons; Chapman Memorial Cup: David Ford, Alan Ford & Son; CW Byford & Sons Cup: Andrew Newton, GB Newton & Sons; The Vitovis Cup: Colin Clifton-Brown, RL Clifton-Brown & Son; Newman & Clark Cup: Colin Clifton-Brown, RL Clifton-Brown & Son; EG Clarke & Sons Cup: Alan Fayers, A & D Fayers; Frank Pertwee & Sons Cup: Tony Hogsbjerg, Hogsbjerg Farms; Unwin Grain Cup: David Ford, Alan Ford & Son; Agricultural Spraying Company Cup: George Harris, TG Harris & Son; Clover Cup: John Powell, JL Powell & Co; Hasler Cup: James Kiddy, Yen Hall Farms; LA Ford Memorial Cup: John Powell, JL Powell & Co; J & HG Matthews Cup: Andrew Newton, GB Newton & Sons; Wade Salver: Richard Chrystal, Chrystal Farms.