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Champion of Champions Competition
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After our plans for a World Scotch Pie Champions of Champions were delayed at the start of the year, we were finally able to run the competition in May.
This one-off Champion of Champions competition was created to allow some of Scotland’s best food artisans to shine in what has been a tough year all round for so many. We hosted a judging on 4 May under strict social distancing conditions, where competition amongst 15 past champions was tough. All the mouth-watering pies were put to a blind taste-off at Bakers House, Scottish Bakers Dunfermline HQ, by two pie experts, Head Judge Ian Nelson and Paul Long, Managing Director of BAKO Northern and Scotland who spent many hours putting the pastry perfections through their paces to determine which pie looked and tasted the best. Judge Paul Long, said, “I have judged this competition over many years and I have to say the standard of entries from past winners did not disappoint so selecting the best was a tough job but one pie did indeed stand out from the crowd.” Following the judging we kept the entrants in suspense for a week before surprising the winner, James Pirie & Son at their shop in Newtyle. Alan Pirie from James Pirie & Son said, “I was delighted to have won the competition twice but to have been judged alongside literally the best pies in the land and to have come out on top is beyond my wildest dreams. I really do make the best Scotch Pies in the world. This is just fantastic news and will be a huge boost to the business after a year of continuing to serve our community with fresh produce through difficult circumstances for us all.” “It is important to say that each and every pie that was entered on judging day is a winning pie having taken the title in recent years,” said Scottish Bakers Chief Executive, Alasdair Smith. “So the judges really were spoilt for choice on judging day.” TV presenter Carol Smillie who has long hosted the awards ceremony said, “I am so pleased to hear that Alan and Norma have taken the title and that they can truly call themselves the Champion of Champions, well done to them.” Event partner Scottish Craft Butchers’ Executive Manager Gordon King said, “We were delighted to be involved in the champion of champions scotch pie evaluation and to hear that Piries have taken the title is great news. In these difficult times it is more important than ever to recognise the traditional skills and hard work that goes in to develop and produce a truly iconic Scottish product.”
THE IMPRESSIVE ROLL CALL WAS:
- Aulds Bakeries of Greenock - Boghall Butchers of Boghall - Brownings the Bakers of Kilmarnock - Christie the Baker of Airdie - Irvines Bakery of Beith - James Pirie & Sons of Newtyle - John G Renicks of Thornhill - Macleans Highland Bakery of Forres - Murdoch Brothers of Forres - Murrays Bakers of Perth - R T Stuart of Buckhaven - Sugar and Spice of Auchterarder - The Kandy Bar of Saltcoats - The Little Bakery of Dumfries - W F Stark of Buckhaven
