Gardener told not to enter village show for 'being too good'

The Telegraph UK ^ | February 13, 2011 | Rebecca Lefort

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It is the ultimate accolade for a keen vegetable grower – a 73-year-old has been told not enter his village gardening competition because he is too good.

David Stirzaker has been asked by the organisers of the North Cadbury and District Horticultural Society, in Somerset, not to exhibit his produce at its annual show, because his impressive record at the event is discouraging others from taking part.

Mr Stirzaker – who has won 12 cups at the show in just four years, for his prize-winning carrots, parsnips and tomatoes – has pledged to take the matter to the Royal Horticultural Society.

"This is my hobby and I have been supporting their show for four years. I find the request very insulting – it is a competition so I would have thought it is down to other growers to try harder if they want to beat me," he said.

"I want nothing more to do with the society. I won't be showing there again and I have told them that they can come and collect their trophies."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Related story

[excerpt] .......David Stirzaker, 73, has won 12 trophies with his produce in just four years, and now the North Cadbury & District Horticultural Society has taken the view that his skill is somehow unfair on those who can’t yet coax their soil to yield such paragons of parsnips and titans among tomatoes. It smacks of a New Labour ethos of “prizes for all”, whereby excellence is seen as an affront to equality, rather than a challenge to aim higher.

Imagine if this philosophy applied in all competitive fields: “Accrington Stanley are the new FA Cup holders – or they would be, if they hadn’t already won the Premier League.” Or how about: “And therefore Marcus Bungay is duly elected, because he wasn’t last time.” [end excerpt]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

........."It's not as though I'm secretive - I'm always happy to share what I know with other gardeners."

North Cadbury and District Horticultural Society's letter to Mr Stirzaker followed discussions at committee meetings in September and October. Members felt that his domination of the show over recent years was contributing to declining numbers of entries.

A spokeswoman for the society said she could not comment until after its latest meeting which was scheduled for Wednesday night..............." Somerset News

[stuartcr]

Good thing it doesn’t.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Talk about green with envy!

If this guy is monopolizing the trophies, then they should have second and third place winners. That would encourage people to try to beat his green thumb without denying him his own recognition.

[MarineBrat]

Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbour to have them through envy. ~Aristotle

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Annual Show 2010 Trophey Winners from left to right.

David Sturzaker - Gordon Attwell Challenge Trophy for most points in show and Rose Shield for fruit and vegetable classes.

Theresa Hallett - Runner-up Shield for second highest points in show and Runner-up Shield in fruit and vegetable classes and Phillips Challenge Shield for best single exhibit in the flower classes and Award for most entries in show.

Jean Atwell - Francis Blackwood Trophy for floral arrangement classes.

Shirley Gear-Evans - Flower Trophy for the flower classes.

Janet Body - The Presidents Trophy for most points in the domestic science classes.

Leni van Klaveren - Floral Plate for best single exhibit in the floral arrangement classes.

Source: North Cadbury Horticultural Society

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Remember the Pickle Story on “The Andy Griffith Show?”

Clara holds the honor of winning the blue ribbon for the best pickles at the Mayberry county fair 12 years running and also wins first place in the Mayberry flower show.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Edwards

But because Andy and Barney can’t eat all of Aunt Bea’s “kerosene” pickles, they refill her canning jars with store bought pickles and that sets up the story line of “best in show” pickles at the Mayberry Show.

Clara Edwards’ to Andy when he tastes her pickles and realizes how good they are:

Clara explained that when her husband was alive, he had loved her pickles. She then asked Andy if he had ever seen her scrapbook. She took it out and showed him her blue ribbons for each of the 11 years she had won the pickle contest at the fair, and said, “Whenever I get discouraged or lonely, I take out my book and look at my ribbons. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s a great comfort to know that there’s something I can do. You must think I’m just putting on airs, but I do try to make my pickles better every year. It means so much to me.”

http://landrumhrblog.com/2010/10/19/the-pickle-story/

(So Andy and Barney have to eat up ALL the store bought pickles Bea believes are hers so that she’ll make another batch of “kerosene” pickles that will be her entry in the fair.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZvImY36fd0&feature=player_embedded

[dennisw]

If I’m a very good 73 year old gardener I would be more laid back about it all and withdraw from competition for three years. Let others win the prizes and become a judge perhaps. After three years go at it again. I don’t get the compulsion to be so competitive when you are in retirement

[dennisw]

OK.... how do they get called kerosene pickles?

[Nooseman]

Kids these days,got no gumption

[HiTech RedNeck]

Maybe by pickling them so badly they taste like kerosene.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Aristotle gets a B minus, mainly for effort. It took Christianized society to understand (and promptly forget) that envy/jealousy are two sides of the same anti-God coin.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Exactly! Aunt Bea did not do well canning pickles.

Even a fly “died” for those who remember that episode.

[dennisw]

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:14vmBs2s9bQJ:www.zille.com/griffith/epinfo.asp%3Frecno%3D43%26comments%3Dall+kerosene+pickles&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

You are correct. Her pickles were so bad the judges said they tasted like they were dipped in kerosene. Here I thought kerosene pickles was just a type of legitimate pickle

[dennisw]

Now I get it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

At 73 he’s probably staying fit through his gardening and appreciating the extra time he’s earned in his retirement - and doing something productive.

Why should he (he’s offered to share his knowledge with anyone who wants to learn) step back so someone with lesser skill can get a silver bowl or a plaque to hang on their wall?

I say, “Keep up the great example David Stirzaker! You are an inspiration to us all! Bravo! Job well done!”

Too many students’ parents slap that old “My Child is an Honor Student” sticker on their cars. It’s how teachers’ unions make parents believe their kids are brilliant and that public schools are teaching.

The proof is in the pudding.

Apparently Mr. Stirzaker’s gardening skill is evident when the fruit of his labors are displayed.

[dennisw]

I can only speak for myself and that would not be my attitude at age 73. I do some gardening and have quite a few fruit trees growing.......And I do not view fruit&veg judging contests that way at my younger than 73 age. He is making a big deal about what should be a friendly competition

[Cincinatus' Wife]

He is correct.

[Nickname]

What you suggest would be the gracious thing to do but some people are just very driven and competitive.

He sounds like he might be a bit of a crank but whatever. People like him are a reality in life and I don’t think that forcing him to sit out the competitions are a good idea.

[saganite]