THE first World Watercress Eating Championship is among the scores of attractions on offer at this year's Watercress Festival in Alresford. Pitting man and woman against superfood, members of the public will be challenged to munch their way through as many bags of fresh watercress as they can in four minutes. The winner will be crowned the world watercress -eating champion. In a line-up that recognises both the historic and present-day importance of the well-known superfood, this year's festival is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Taking place on Sunday, from 10am to 4pm, the fifth annual festival will once again bring together the local community and food lovers from far and wide in a celebration of Alresford's famous crop and one of Britain's greatest culinary delights. As always, the festival will feature an extensive Hampshire Fare food market, as well as bands and street entertainment, an arts and crafts market and activities for children. Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson will be making a welcome return to the town to demonstrate the culinary versatility of the tasty crop, and to sign copies of a new book celebrating 200 years of watercress farming. Entrance is free. Parking is £2. Further details can be found at http://www.watercressfestival.org">www.watercressfestival.org.
