World Record Onion Strain - Ailsae World Record Onion Strain - Ailsae
The Ailsae onions in the picture on the right both weigh over 15lbs each.

Bred by Keith Foster of Exhibition Seeds

80 seeds to a packet

Bred from a 3 way cross from bulbs of the strains. Ailsa Craig, a strain I had from Vince Throup, which reached 6lb, 1½oz ounces at Harrogate in 1986 and was fourth. The other strain was the variety. The Kelsae, hence the name Ailsae

Registered in 1993 under trial name of Ailsae by Exhibition Seeds. Granted variety name in winter 1995. It is the holder of the world record with 15lbs 15½oz

Mr. Mel Ednie of Anstruther grew the bulb. Seed was supplied to him in in1992 from a 10lb-14oz bulb, which was second at Worlds heaviest onion challenge at Ashington.

The seed was subsequently mislaid by him and found a year later in his jacket pocket in his potting shed. He then grew the seed from a sowing in December 93 from which he grew the world record bulb in 1994 of 12lbs 4onces when he beat Robert Holland from Scotland-Ayrshire.

The following year he sowed seed that was spare from the same batch I gave him in 1992 and in the 1995 growing season he broke the world record at Harrogate with Fifteen pounds fifteen and a half ounces.

The bulb, which was responsible for this, was Ironically beaten in 1991 at Ashington by a bulb that Vin Troup exhibited and was almost rotten on the show bench. To this day I have never understood that decision, but weight, not quality rules at Ashington.

The bulb I was second with, was a superb heavy solid bulb, which was quite unique that year, even when it was growing in the bed. I knew it was a special bulb and all the resulting seed to this day has this parentage in it.

The world’s heaviest onion is judged under the Guinness book of records rules, they stipulate that the tops must be removed and also the roots.

There have been bulbs heavier than the above mentioned. A bulb weighing 17lb 2ounces at Ashington in 1995 again grown by Mr. Mel Ednie, but this included the top and roots so was not recognized has the world record. The variety again was “Ailsae”

Here is a rundown of how the weights have improved with time, knowledge and variety since 1975…

1975 Alf Breed- 4lbs 15¾oz

1976 Jack Whieldon- 5lbs 10oz

1977 Bob Rodger- 5lbs 13½

1978 Bob Charles- 4lbs 4½oz

1979 Graham White- 5lbs 5½oz

1980 Bob Rogers- 6lbs ½oz

1981 Stan Hill- 7lbs 6oz

1982/83 Joe McKenzie- 6lbs 7oz and 7lbs 3½oz

1984 Stuart Shakshaft- 7lbs 7½oz

1984 (oct) Bill Rodgers 7lbs 11¾oz

1985 Bill Rodgers- 6lbs 14½oz

1986 Vin Throup- 7lbs 4½oz

1987 Ivor Mace- 8lbs 4½oz

1988 Keith Foster- 9lbs 2¾oz Variety (Ailsae)

1989 Vince Throup – 9lbs 11½oz

1990 Vince Throup- 10lbs 14oz

1991 Peter Glazebrook- 10lbs 9¼oz

1992 Robert Holland- 11lbs 2oz

1993 Robert Holland- 11lbs 1¾oz

1994 Mel Ednie- 12lbs 4oz (Ailsae)

1995 Mel Ednie- 15lbs 15½oz Existing world record Variety (Ailsae)

1996 Mel Ednie- 13lbs Variety (Ailsae)

1997 Mel Ednie- 13lbs 3oz Variety (Ailsae)

1998 Donald Kay 13lbs 8¼oz Variety (Ailsae)

1999 Eric Walker- 11lbs 8oz Variety (Ailsae)

2000 Vin Throup- 10lbs 7¼oz Variety (Ailsae)

2001 W Lamb 12lbs 10¾oz Variety (Ailsae)

2002 Vin Throup 11lbs 15¾oz Variety (Ailsae)

2003 Louis Hunt 11lb 15oz

2004 W Lamb 13lb 12oz

2005 John Sifford 16lbs 8.37oz current world record

2006 Jack Newbold 15lbs 9.75oz

2007 Barbara Cook 13lbs 5.5oz

2008 Peter Glazebrook 14lbs 11oz