Champion eyes 18th world watercress eating title
He held 17-time world watercress eating titles and the champion was preparing to defend his title at an annual event celebrating the leafy green vegetable.
The Alresford Watercress Festival in Hampshire marks the start of watercress season in the UK and a highlight of the event is The World Watercress Eating Championships.
"When they say go, you just open a bag and stuff it down, and it's the quickest time that wins, as simple as that really," said Glenn Walsh, from Bishop's Sutton, who was hoping for his 18th title.
Asked if he likes the peppery salad leaves, the champion, nicknamed the "Popeye of Watercress eating", said: "I don't mind a bit of it mixed in with something."
Glenn Walsh said he wins a cup for taking part but it is mostly about the "honour"
The festival is a not-for-profit event, hosting entertainment, crafts, food and cookery demos, with any money made being donated to charities, with children's cancer charity Abby's Heroes the main beneficiary.
Walsh said it started as a small festival but has grown into a massive event, attended by thousands of people last year.
He said it means he has competed with people from around the world over the past 22 years.
"I had Chinese radio one time there, I don't think they quite got my sense of humour but there we go," he said.
Speaking to Radio Solent, Walsh said he gets a cup for winning but he really does it for "the honour, I suppose".
Alresford became the centre of the watercress industry in 1865, when the rail line to the Georgian town opened, enabling farmers to get their leaves to market in Covent Garden.
It has since been named the UK's capital of watercress farming.
around 25 to 30 people tend to take part in the contest
Did you know that watercress has impressive health benefits
Watercress is a powerhouse vegetable that packs several important nutrients but is extremely low in calories. It contains a plethora of antioxidants, which may lower your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer. It’s also a good source of minerals that protect your bones. Additionally, watercress makes a delicious addition to any meal and is a nice change from the usual lettuce or spinach. Though watercress is hardly one of the most popular vegetables, its nutrition profile makes it a stellar addition to your diet, read more hereRecipe suggestions using watercress
Cod Roasted - with watercress sauce and roasted cherry tomatoes - see hereTuna Steaks Seared and served with a pineapple salsa and watercress - see here
Egg and parsley salad with watercress dressing - see hereAll the best Jan
39 comments:
I will admit, Jan, to never having tried watercress. However, after reading this post, I probably should give it a try at least once.
I'm like Beatrice and have never tried watercress. I'm going to have to see if I can find any around here!
watercress??? i think i have eaten small amounts of this on a sandwich but don't hold me to it!! this sounds so fun and a "little" better for you than the hotdog eating contest, which was the first thing that popped into my head!!!
Jan, that salad you linked to looks tasty.
Tina
Dear Jan, I have never tried watercress!
That is hilarious! What a hobby...
I've never tried watercress but my sister in law used to go and pick it in a little harbour cove. They ate quite a bit of it. The people who take part in these eating competitions amaze me, how do they get all that food down?
Looks like a fun event Jan! I'm going to have to put this on my shopping list as I realized I haven't had any for a while. Thank you and have a wonderful week. All the best, Denise
OMGosh how much fun is this? I would love to be there.
I have never eaten, I am familiar with and interested in the Festival. In my country Slovenia, I have not come across anything like this yet.
I don't think we have watercress in Australia, I've never seen it on supermarket shelves. I have read about it in books, mostly children's stories set in the UK, where the kids chow down on mustard&cress sandwiches. For a peppery leaf in our salads and sandwiches we have "rocket" which is known as "arugula" in the US.
Ich musste mich so amüsieren, als ich das Foto von dem reinessen der Leute sah. Toll was die für Wettbewerb machen für gute Zwecke find eich immer toll!
Danke für diesen tollen Bericht von der Brunnenkresse und Champion!
have a good day, hugs Elke
I do like it in small doses but wouldn't like to eat a whole bag of it.
Never heard of this contest. I will not give it a try.
You would have to love watercress to eat it in a competition like that.
The salad I will try - in summer, brrr it´s too cold for May here...
I thought watercress was a garnish, I'll be on the lookout for it from now on. A fun post!
Amalia
xo
Interesting contest! I have never tried watercress.
Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.
Ha ha, there are some funny contests. The things people will do to become a champion of something. I used to grow watercress, it's actually really simple to grow.
...I thought that it was just a garnish.
Watercress is something I have never had the opportunity to try.
I love watercress, but would never enter a contest. Why spoil a lovely thing by gobbling it as fast as possible?
I don't mind a little watercress but not as much as used in those competitions. It sounds like the festival is a lot of fun though.
Nice in sandwiches.
God bless.
That is so cool! I really like watercress :-D
I remember seeing watercress a lot when I was younger but I never see it now.
I love watercress.
I should use watercress more, I hardly do.
I've never heard of a salad eating contest. Here, most of the contests at fairs involve tons of hotdogs. 🤢
I like cress microgreens, but not sure if that's a different thing.
REPLY TO
Shari Burke who said ...
I like cress microgreens, but not sure if that's a different thing.
Hello Shari, many thanks for your comment.
Looking around the internet Watercress is described as a specific nutrient-dense plant often grown as a microgreen, while microgreens are a broader category of young edible plants harvested early for flavour and concentrated nutrition.
Watercress: Specific plant, highly nutrient-dense, peppery flavour, harvested early as microgreens.
Microgreens: Broad category of young edible plants, nutrient-rich, diverse flavors, harvested at the first true leaf stage.
Both are excellent for boosting nutrition, easy to grow indoors, and versatile in culinary applications.
Choosing between watercress and other microgreens depends on flavour preference, nutritional goals, and growing conditions, but watercress remains one of the most potent options for concentrated vitamins and antioxidants.
Of course availability in your local shop/store can also have a bearing on what we buy.
All the best Jan
GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Elkes Lebensglück
Ich musste mich so amüsieren, als ich das Foto von dem reinessen der Leute sah. Toll was die für Wettbewerb machen für gute Zwecke find eich immer toll!
Danke für diesen tollen Bericht von der Brunnenkresse und Champion!
have a good day, hugs Elke
I was so amused when I saw the photo of everyone eating the food. It's great what kind of competition they do for good causes!
Thanks for this wonderful report about the watercress and the champion!
Have a good day, hugs, Elke
I tried water cress a little while back when you posted about it. I just didn't like it. Too bad because it is very good for you!!
I've heard that watercress is really healthy.
That was so interesting - I guess people do interesting things all the time. I can eat a little, but not that much!
Watercress is a green I have never eaten. It sound a bit like arugula, which we do eat and like as it is also a peppery teasting green. It's now another thing I'd like to try if I see it locally...thanks for intriducing it to me!
This was really interesting -- and I learned a lot about it. More than just for sandwiches!
I honestly don't know if I have had it before or not, It would be better for you than some things they have eating contest for :)
El berro en ensalada está muy bien. Besos.
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