Alexandra Spud Dig Home

17/9/25:

Yes It's on again, I hear you cheering as I write this.

I have procured potatoes which will be available on or before the 1/10/25 (I'm fishing on 1/10/25 so don't bother calling me that day.) 

Hopefully this year's choice and general growing conditions will see everyone with magnificent crops, large tubers and happy smiling faces at the dig. I still cry myself to sleep remembering the shame and embarrassment of my paltry result, (sniff, sniff, sob, sob). I am getting better and the counselling is a help... This year I have a new plan and you do not stand a chance Doug, keep that trophy shiny for me...

As usual the a list is on a clipboard will be in the BBQ box around at mine, so call in, pays yer monies ($20), and sign the paperwork inc disclaimer so I know you have picked up the spud. Please plant it anytime from 1/10/25 and at your place, not Doug's or anyone else, just your place.

Morton Smith-Dawe have a great spud growing guide available down at Mitre10, grab one for some secret tips and tricks, but don't tell Doug. I have also attached a PDF copy for those that don't know where Mitre10 is, again, don't tell Doug.

I'm sure y'all remember that the spud diggery function was supposed to be at young Jesse Wong's place but he was absent at some other piss-up, soooo, next year in 2026 it will be there. 

Jesse: lock in these dates now: the country dig will be on Thu 22/1/26 and the town spud dig will be on Fri 23/1/26 finishing at Jesse's place. 

Please mark your calendar, tell your wife, secretary, or organisor and get your bike sorted.

Doug: get the trophy engraved (again) all ready for presentation to the winner (me).

Everyone please read the note below about this not being a monitored email address.

Please feel free to let other people who may be interested know.

And of course any questions can be directed to me, but not at this email address.

Good luck succkers!

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18/11/24: Hi everyone,

I hope this finds you well and your tuber is flourishing, as mine is.

Jesse Wight has given you all a large head start by waiting until the end of October to uplift his potato and plant (hopefully) planted the thing in the ground. Top Tip: Don't forget to water it Jesse.

The dig date for country members will be Thursday the 16/1/25 where we cruise around in a van and dig the country members, no official weigh in will take place  but there may be an un-official set of scales  present.

The town dig will be the following day, Friday the 17/1/25. Please mark this on your calendar, and please also let your secretary/wife/girlfriend/organisor know the date and get a bike prepped for the grand finale, starting (as usual) from Pete's place on the Bridge Hill and ending up this year at Jesse Wight's Moa St residence. Thanks to both of you for the launch pad and landing place.

Remember to claim any honours, and the trophy, and the prize purse you MUST attend the friday Bike Ride.

I look forward to seeing you there and we will need a team to help with food prep d, including scraping spuds, putting chips in bowls, making the dips, buttery of bread, BBQ cookery, beer chilling/swilling/ etc and etc. 

The link below will take you to the website along with pictures of the magnificent trophy with only one spelling error on it, and other pertinent info. Bookmark it.

-- 

grow hard fellow competitors,

Cheers,

Joe

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14/9/24: Hi All,

This years competition spuds are here from 1/10/24 if you want them. Dig date will be Mid-Jan Thursday 16/1/24 (For Country Members) and Friday 17/1/24 for the rest.

The spuds and a clipboard with a list will be in the big plastic bin in my bbq area, as per previous years, and there will be a pen there, bring the right money eh!

Also a 'how to grow a potato' sheet you can take gratis, god know's you need all the help you can get.

Swing by and pick one up so you can keep yr stats going into your dotage...

Cheers, Joe

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24/1/24: Thanks everyone for attending this year, congrats to Owen (again) Lance (you need a sieve Mate!) and Scott Mac. Commiserations to Dave Stringer but the rules are one has to be present. More Kudos and thanks to Lance for his place to finish at, Aotea Electric for the weighing machine and CRA for ice to keep things cool! Cheers Guys.

HI Everyone,

I hope this finds you well. We have 21 entrants this year. My potato is looking fantastic (as usual) and I believe we are digging at precisely the right time for max weight. I have been watering frequently as well (myself with beer and spud with H2O btw)

If you didn't get a spud but still want to come along on Friday feel free, the more the merrier I always say...

Owen Philip has the trophy and hopefully he's got it up to date with engraving, added to the rusty bit and polished the shiny bits and will also get it to me before Friday the 19/1/24. It would be good to have it on Thursday 18/1/24 and see if we can drink out of it yet or put white powder on it...

The Country members dig will be Thursday 18/1/24 departing from Joe’s place at 6.00pm in Craig’s van. There's a chance it will still be broken (starter motor issue?) and if so, I’ll drive if we cannot get anyone else of more sober habits. I'll take my car if the van is not a runner, and then we can only take 4 others OR we take more cars, volunteers please contact me.

Lance and Joe are confirmed starters for van/car and we have these country members to dig:

1-Scott McMurray, 

2-Butch, 

3- Dave Stringer, 

4-Corey Robbo

then Chatto Crk Pub for ONE beer

5-Craig (at Doug's)

Then Home.

Then on Friday the 20/1/24, the Town dig, departing from Pete’s place (72 Aronui Rd) on Bicycle (with helmets, tires with air pressure and good brakes, & sensible refreshments please, no, you do not need a whole 24 pack!) at approx 6pm.  

Please be there as close to 5.30pm as you can and whoever is there will while away the minutes by OFFICIALLY weighing the country members spuds. 

Logan, can we borrow the weighing machine again?

Then we’ll do the usual round town route for the remaining 9 and finish at Lance's place again approx 8:30-9pm, (there are no planned for pub stops but you can if you want)

There’ll be some sausages and bread and chips and dip and beer you dropped off earlier in the wheel barrow with ICE in it and the Trophy Presentation and a pot of spuds and prizemoney and lotsa laughs & mockery/taunting, as usual.

Should be good, see you's

Kind regards,

11/1/23:

Hi everyone,

The dig day for our comp will be Thursday the 12 and Friday the 13 of January 2023. Please spread the word, and get your bike fitness up...

Venue and other details are here:

We'll have the country members dig on Thursday (Wighty…van, box ticked) 6pm start at Joe’s. Like depart at 6 so arrive at 5.45 if you are in.

1. Friday bike ride starting from Pete's Hacienda (6pm sharp) at the top of bridge hill. I’m thinking you all know his address...

2. We’ll be weighing the Thursday Country Members efforts from 5.30pm on fri

3. Lance Mackie’s place is the end-point. We’ll have some sausages n bread n sauce. Probly some chips n dip and hopefully a pot of spuds.

4. We’ll need volunteers for the BBQ, spud washers and snack putter-outers on the nite.

5. Bring your own beer, Lance (he is a god) is organising a barrel to put ice and beer in. Please bring beer (essential) and ice (if possible).

6. Please read the note below as well...

NOTE NOTEy NOTE:

Lance: please advise Marty, I have no contact details for him.

Dougo: please advise both Dave Naylor and Wazza Lees (no contacts for them)

Non payments: DaveS, StuG and Kev M (aka Ozzie) Bring $15 and make sure I mark it off.

NeilJ you are invited to attend if you like...

Cheers,

10/1/22:

HI Everyone,

I hope this finds you well. We have 20 entrants this year. My potato is looking fantastic and I believe we are digging at precisely the right time for max weight.

The Country members dig will be Thursday 13/1/22 departing from Joe’s place at 6.00pm in Craig’s van. (I’ve asked him but have not heard back if that’s ok yet, so Craig, let me know it’s ok please) I’ll drive if we cannot get anyone else of more sober habits.

Lance and Joe are confirmed starters and we have these country members to dig:

1. Scott. Butch Woods Craig WightJesse WightDave StringerCorey RobboGeorgia n SamWarren Lees (Clyde-ish)Dave NaylorDougo (The Champ) McKenzie

Then on Friday the 14/1/22, the Town dig, departing from Pete’s place (72 Aronui Rd) on Bicycle (with helmets, tires with air pressure and good brakes, & sensible refreshments please, no, you do not need a whole 24pack!) at approx 6pm.  

Please be there as close to 5.30pm as you can and whoever is there will while away the minutes by OFFICIALLY weighing the country members spuds. 

Ken, I’m hoping you get this and can we get some sponsored ice please and also borrow the weighing machine again?

Then we’ll do the usual round town route for the remaining 9 and finish at Lance's place again approx 8:30-9pm, (there are no planned for pub stops enroute but you can if you want)

There’ll be some sausages and bread and chips and dip and beer you dropped off earlier in the wheel barrow with ICE in it and the Trophy Presentation and a pot of spuds and prizemoney and lotsa laughs & mockery/taunting, as usual.

1. Peter Nutsford (big downhill, check brakes!) Ian BoudMike CooperOwen PhillipAaron MoreJesse WightJohn PhilipsLogan Forsyth (Small Hill Climb to his!)AussieJoe Forsyth (small downhill to his!)Lance

Should be good, see you's

6/1/21: Dates set for this years dig: Country Thu  28/1/21 and Town Fri 29/1/21.

28/8/15: 

This years event will start on Oct 1, 2015. The potato will be the Lisetta. My info suggests it is a 1st early, approx 70=90 days to maturity, and is supposed to be a high yielder. Hopefully better than last years Allura, which wasn't! 

An email has been sent out but not everyone reads these so please advise others to contact me here:  alexandraspudgrowingcontest@gmail.com for entry or other info. 

Of course we'll be round and I'll be posting (on Facebook) all sorts of useless info, mockery and taunting and other informative news.