Bumper crops: Tipenes top of the tater pops in Spud in a Bucket

From the bucket to the dinner table . . . heading home after weighing in their buckets are (from left) Jo Newton, Ruth Newton, Max Latu, Emily Latu, Amara Rustenburg and Dan Latu. Two-year-old Amara won heaviest yield in her children’s age category. Picture by Liam Clayton

It is amazing how many potatoes can be grown in a two-litre bucket.”

That was the standard comment at the weigh-in for the Alzheimers Gisborne Tairāwhiti Spud in a Bucket competition at Bunnings Warehouse on Saturday.

The Tipene whānau had the secret combination for growing bumper crops — brothers Thomas, 9, and Hayze, 8, and their “Papa”  Doc all finishing among the top prizes.

Thomas won the most spuds in the children’s six to 12 years age category with 31 taters dug out of his bucket.

It was 10 more than second-placed Crystal Hodgetts while third went to Eric Clayton, who grew 19 spuds.

When it came to heaviest crops, the Tipene cousins excelled.

Thomas won the 6-12yrs age group with 1.977 kilograms of spuds, Hayze was second on 1.49kg and  Kaleb Owen was third with a 941-gram haul.

Doc Tipene won both categories in the adult section — 37 spuds tumbling out of the soil in his bucket and his crop weighing in at 1.909kg.

Second place in the weight category was Nathan Peach with 1.852 kg, followed by Janet Willson with 1.266 kg.

Rita Hook’s 25 spuds earned her second in the most spuds category and Rod Cutts was third with 24.

Alzheimers Gisborne manager Tracy Robinson said it was always great to see the littlies coming in with their buckets.

“They are so proud of their efforts and excited by the results. It’s like Christmas as they watch their potatoes being shaken out of the dirt.

In the children’s 0-5yrs age group, two-year-old Amara Rustenburg won the heaviest yield with 877g, second went to Hineraumati Karaka with 603g and third to Olivia Malia with 592g.

Olivia, 3, won the most spuds with a yield of 28, ahead of Hineraumati Karaka’s 21 and George Steven’s  19.

The youngest entrant this year, while not a prize winner, was undoubtedly the cutest — three-month-old Leo Malia.

Leo was not even born when mum Lucy entered him.

The Malia family were winners last year.

Olivia maintained the family tradition of success this year while older brother Oscar was pipped at the post for a prize this time.

Ms Robinson thanked Bunnings for its ongoing sponsorship of an event that has been running for 10 years.

Prizes ranged from Bunnings vouchers worth over $100 to pool toys and camping chairs.

The Rotary Club of Gisborne members are an integral part of the weigh-in day, which requires each bucket to be emptied, sieved and its contents counted, then bagged for the entrant.

While entries were down this year, the organisation was pleased to have raised $2600.