How would you like to be a World Champion?
2011 saw the first staging of the Bromyard Hop Festival to celebrate the region’s history in hop
growing. The main event is a World Championship Race where teams of 4 race a filled pocket (sack),
against the clock, around the Herefordshire town of Bromyard. There are 3 categories of entry:
Open
Womens
Junior (under 18’s)
-
carrying a full weight pocket of 70 kilos
carrying a pocket weighing 50 kilos
carrying a pocket weighing 50 kilos
As a World Championship we want to ensure that invitations are extended to hop growing areas and
hop related industries all around the world. Last year we had entries from Poland, Rumania and
Bulgaria, all in national colours; the teams comprising of workers from local farms.
We appreciate that it may be difficult for you to send a team (if you can, we promise you a good time)
but, do you have connections in the UK with companies, breweries, hotels, pubs, etc., who could enter
teams on your behalf? If so, why not enter, it’s not every day you get the chance to become World
Champions!
Last year’s winners of the Open Race were Legges Eight in a time of 2 min 36 secs; the women’s
winners were The Goodbody Girls from Wye Valley Brewery.
Every competitor gets a
commemorative medallion and the winners get the World Championship Shield¹ engraved with the
team name and time, plus, each member of the winning team get a personal winner’s shield. The Open
and Women’s winners also get a presentation of beer from Wye Valley Brewery, Junior’s a cash
voucher. A professional photographer will be on hand and photographs can be used for your own
promotional purposes.
We firmly wish the Race to become truly international and hope that you will find a way to enter a
team. For further information about the event and other activities that take place on the day go to our
website www.bromyardhopfestival.co.uk
Charles Faram – Hop Factors & Merchants – http://www.charlesfaram.co.uk/
¹ - The World Championship Shields are retained after the Race and will be on permanent display in Bromyard’s
Tourist Information Centre, Bromyard Live!
Women’s teams “Top Totty” and “The Goodbody Girls” prepare to go!
“Furious Polish” nearing
the finish!
“Romanian Bulldogs” and their Supporters!