Events – The Mangold Hurling Association

Gillingham, October 2009

Spooky Goings-on at Orchard Park Garden Centre Gillingham, Dorset

This year’s mangold-growing contest and hurling event at Orchard Park Garden Centre, Gillingham, Dorset was held on Halloween, so what better time to revive the old Somerset tradition of Punkie Night? (The answer is 29th October, because Punkie Night is on the last Thursday of the month.)

The origins of Punkie (or Punky) night are uncertain, but it has been a tradition in parts of Somerset for as long as anyone can remember. It involves making jack o’lanterns from carved mangolds, similar to the American tradition of carving pumpkins. Children sometimes carry them around and demand money with menaces, again similar to the American tradition of trick or treat.

The Punkie lanterns above were made specially for this year’s event, using a yellow mangold (left) and a red mangold (right).

The Weigh-in and Prizegiving

Entries were down on last year because of the world recession, but the winning mangold in the senior class weighed in at an impressive 7.5Kg.

Richard Cumming presents the prize for the Junior category, in the glare of the Gillingham paparazzi’s flashbulbs.

The winner of the Most Interestingly-Shaped Mangold category gleefully displays his certificate. His mangold was interesting bordering on hideous.

Above: an uncomfortably high proportion of the mangolds entered this year seemed to resemble human heads.

31 October 2009
Somerset, April 2009

4th April 2009
Sowing Time at the Association’s Mangold Patch

These pictures show Mangold Hurling Association committee members sowing this year’s mangold seeds. We have attempted to recreate some of the fertility rites and symbols that were used in days gone by.

Unfortunately we forgot to take a camera, but all was not lost because we were equipped with the latest portable telephones with built-in cameras. Consequently the resulting images are voice quality only. The Association apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

This year the Mangold Hurling Association’s patch is larger than in the past, extending to some 160 (one hundred and sixteen) acres (hectares).

Traditional fertility symbols

This committee member is wearing the Hat of Fecundity. It is hard to see where the hat ends and the tree begins in this picture, so there is another picture below to provide some clarity.

He is also holding a fertility stick. This stick is placed at the end of the row of mangolds to ward off evil spirits and rabbits. The dangly bits rattle in the wind, and the rabbits do not like this one bit.

The Mangold Hurling Association would like to hear from any older readers who can remember what this stick is called.

Rear view of the Hat of Fecundity, this time with no trees to cause confusion.

Sowing is back-breaking work. The everyday object on the left gives an idea of scale.

Still life.

4 April 2009
Gillingham, October 2008

Despite adverse growing conditions this year, an encouraging number of entries were received for the mangold-growing contest.

The weigh-in and prizegiving was followed by an open mangold hurling contest in which mangolds of all sizes were provided so everybody could have a go. Exciting action pictures below!

Specially-commissioned plates were awarded to the winning Senior and Junior entries. These were made by Spotty Pots who were based at Orchard Park.

The Weigh-in and Prizegiving…

The winner of the senior prize for the heaviest mangold proudly displays his winning root. This gentleman, who is 89 years old, narrowly missed first prize last year – a consistent performer!

The crowd goes wild as the Senior class winner displays his plate.

The winner of the Junior class receiving her prize from Managing Director Richard Cumming. This was the heaviest Junior mangold despite having been attacked and partly eaten by something, probably a slug.

Richard presents the prize for the most interestingly-shaped mangold. Unfortunately it is not actually in the picture, but you may rest assured that it was indeed interesting.

This lady had the most aesthetically pleasing mangold. It has a nice shape, a long root and a lovely orange colour. She puts it down to the fine soil in her garden.

… and the Mangold Hurling!

This year’s Mangold King poses with the ennell, a sort of ceremonial mangold- carrying device.

28 October 2008