The manageress of Dolly Daydreams in Tadley has lived in the 'capital of watercress', on Alresford's main street with her fiancé, Dave Crockford, for two years and unknowingly booked their wedding date on the same day as the festival. Jenny (25) said: "I am extremely grateful to the festival committee for kindly sending a beautiful Rolls Royce to whisk me, and my dress through the crowds safely!"
The scorching weather drove more than 15,000 people, the biggest crowd in the festival's 11-year history, to Alresford, the UK's 'capital of watercress', on Sunday to celebrate the superfood and mark the start of the British season. The Georgian town of Alresford has more watercress farms in its surrounding area than any other part of the UK due to its mineral rich spring waters and specially built railway line in 1865, which enabled farmers to get their leaves to market in Covent Garden, making it the obvious location for a celebration of the peppery leaf.
Festival-goers were given the chance to taste the first crop of the British season by the Watercress King and Queen, Jack Willoughby (7) and Laura Collins (6), who opened proceedings in traditional style; parading through the town on horse and cart, throwing bags of the leafy superfood to the heaving crowd of onlookers as they went. The King and Queen were followed by morris men, street entertainers and musicians.
The Watercress Food Awards were presented by a panel of judges which included award-winning food writer Lucas Hollweg, local MP Steve Brine, and leading food blogger Karen Burns-Booth.
The winner of the Most Innovative Watercress Product, which also won the title of the Best Overall Product, was 'Watercress Ice Cream' made by Purbeck ice cream, based in Scoles Farm, Dorset. Lucas and his fellow judges felt this product deserved to win as it was the most innovative, with a watercress flavour that was not too overpowering and well balanced with the sweetness of the ice cream base. They also noted its excellent creamy consistency, how well the watercress was distributed, and the beautiful green colour.
Sole Butchers, a father and son duo run by Mark and John Sole and based on Broadstreet in Alresford, won the Best Sausage & Burger Product for their 'Pork, Watercress and Ale sausages', made with Alresford watercress and Itchen Valley IPA ale. Judges commented on the superb taste – how well both the watercress and ale came through and the excellent texture.
Olives Direct was the winner of the Best Soups & Sauces category with its 'watercress pesto'. The locally produced pesto was commended for its punchy, multi-layered flavour and strong watercress taste.
Finally, the winner of the Best Sweet Treats category with her 'Watercress Pesto Fudge' was Liz Usher of Mummy Makes Fudge. Judges thought the consistency and creamy texture was excellent and the unusual inclusion of watercress pesto, surprisingly tasty.
The World Watercress Eating Championships were this year won by newcomer, David White, 50, from Basingstoke. David, a first timer at the festival, decided at the last minute to enter the competition and saw off stiff competition from reigning Guinness World Record holder Glenn Walsh and winners from previous years Sam Batho, and Rajesh Peter. David chomped through two 80g bags of watercress in 1 minute 59 seconds, not a record but an incredible achievement for an amateur! David said: "I didn't have any practice although I do love watercress, so that probably helped!"
The cookery demo unit was a non-stop foodie attraction, with local chefs and award winning food writer Lucas Hollweg cooking up some mouth watering watercress dishes.
British watercress farmers were staggered by the turnout and the scorching hot weather and said it had been the most successful festival in its 11-year history. Car parks were overflowing and more buses were drafted in to cope with the crowds waiting at the park and ride in Ropley.
Watercress is brimming with more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals and, gram for gram, contains more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk and more iron than spinach. Research also shows it is an important player in the field of cancer prevention.
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The event is organised by the Festival Committee made up of many groups in Alresford with support from the Alresford Town Council and principal sponsor The Watercress Alliance (made up of Alresford Salads, Vitacress Salads and The Watercress Company).
For more information visit www.watercress.co.uk or www.watercressfestival.org.