THE champion of champions in the leek growing world were crowned yesterday.

Excitement began on Saturday when competitors from six of Darlington's working men's clubs battled it out to take part in the Champion of Champions competition.

The event was sponsored by The Northern Echo and the breweries which supply all of the working men's clubs in the town, and was organised by the Darlington Working Men's Clubs Leek Shows.

Promotions manager Brian Summers said: "We had a very good turnout, and competition was very high, despite it being late on in the season.

"The standard of entries was very high, and the size of the exhibits was very good too."

Competitors came from Darlington WMC, East End WMC, Harrowgate WMC, Cockerton WMC, Northgate WMC and Hopetown and Whessoe WMC - and there were hundreds of entries.

The leek growers fought it out in their own WMCs on Saturday in a bid to win a place in Sunday's event. They competed in categories such as pot leek, trench leek and intermediate.

The winners from each club then battled it out yesterday in the East End WMC final, the Champion of Champions Leek Show.

Harrowgate WMC growers were crowned the overall winners, with Steve Airey taking the title for best pot leek while Tommy Hope won the trench and intermediate classes.

A presentation night for the winners is to be held in the East End Working Men's Club on Thursday, October 12, from 7pm.

See tomorrow's edition of The Northern Echo for a list of all the winners from the competition