Bernard knows his onions!

Black beret champ 2015 is crowned

IT’S enough to make a grown man weep.

Licensee Bernard Harris has won the fiercely contested Black Beret competition for the biggest onion at The Swan in Inkpen.

The contest is now in it 19th year and contestants eat the winner – the onion, that is – with bread and cheese, while the champion grower gets to don the coveted black beret.

Mr Harris’ prize entry this year tipped the scales at 2lbs 1oz.

However, he conceded that, in previous years, that might not have made the top five.

Mr Harris explained: “It’s been a terrible year for growing onions, with the weather causing a lot of problems. When I won it two years ago, for example, the winning weight was 4lbs 1oz.

“Nearly everyone has had problems with wilt and rot this year.”

In second place was George Ham from Hungerford and, in third, Inkpen parish councillor Bob May.

Contestants are each supplied with five baby onions plants from the same stock to create a level playing field.

This year, 40 contestants entered but of those, only 15 presented prize onions for judging.

Mr Harris added: “It’s been a cold and damp summer and onions need a lot of sunshine.

“I think a lot of people thought their entries would be too small, or they lost everything to wilt and rot.”

As to the secret of his success, Mr Harris denies using any secret formula or exotic feed.

He said: “You weed them and keep them damp. You also need a nice sunny spot... and also some luck.”