PATRIOTISM triumphed at the annual Tiptree Strawberry Race.
In royal dress, more than 60 challengers competed for the title of Fastest and Best Picker at Bounds Farm, in Goldhanger.
The green-fingered lot raced to collect as many Little Scarlet strawberries as they could in one hour to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.
Raluca Grigoruta, from Romania, received a runner-up prize, but was beaten by Rofol Pochwata, from Poland, who picked 4.4 kilograms.
After the competition, the fruit was chilled and driven straight to the Wilkin & Sons jam factory, in Tiptree.
Others prizes were handed out for the Best Hat, Best Dressed, the Fastest Team, which was Thursday Cottage, and the Tiptree Factory won Best Team.
Peter Wilkin, chairman, also commemorated two couples celebrating their 40th and 50th wedding anniversary, who are long-serving pickers.
Wilkin & Sons director, Chris Newenham, said: “I’d like to thank everyone for taking part including our guest teams from Barclays and Dummett Copp.
“This June has been one of the wettest on record with over 9-inches of rain so far when our average annual rainfall is only 20-inches per year.
“The tiny Little Scarlet strawberries are known for their delicate nature so we were relieved to find they’ve produced a great tasting berry which will make delicious jam.”
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