Big Bob is tallest bloom in Shipston
EIGHT-year-old Joshua Allen has broken an eight-year record after growing the tallest entrant in the annual sunflower-growing competition organised by Shipston Rotary.
Joshua’s prize specimen reached the giddy height of 15ft 3in to scoop first prize – a £10 voucher he’s spending on Lego.
Joshua’s green fingers have helped him grow very large sunflowers before, and he’s previously finished second and third in the competition, but this time his entry was head and shoulders above the rest.
Coming in second and third were very respectable entries of 10ft 6ins and 10ft 2ins from Harvey Yorke and Cheska Yates respectively.
The world record is 30ft 1in, set by a grower in Germany in 2014.
Modestly, Joshua says his success is down to luck.
“It’s amazing to see the sunflower as tall as the bedroom window and my school friends walked past my house and watch it get taller and taller each week. I called it Big Bob and watered it every day,” Joshua said.
Big Bob was grown from a seed donated by his grandad, Dave Allen, and was planted in a pot in his home and later moved to the front of the house to get the best of the sunshine. Joshua hopes to grow an even bigger sunflower next time round from the seeds he’s going to harvest from this year’s whopping entry.
His mother, Alison told the Herald that Big Bob had a lot of support in the neighbourhood.
“Our neighbours took a keen interest and watched the sunflower grow throughout the summer. Joshua was delighted to win first prize. It really was a fun thing for us all to do,” Alison said.
Fay lvens of the Rotary club commented: “Joshua’s sunflower is the tallest we’ve had in the eight years of the competition. It was a lovely thing for him to do and I think it will be a summer he’ll never forge.”
Next week Joshua will back with his friends at Shipston Primary School, while Big Bob will still be enjoying the last days of summer as he helps Joshua get ready for next year’s competition.
