2006 Results Press Release
8 October 2005
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From: Linda Jolly Tel: 01479 841 211
ARMY COOK WINS WORLD PORRIDGE MAKING CHAMPIONSHIP 2006
An army cook beat off tough competition to take the title of World Porridge Making Champion 2006 as expert porridge makers from far and wide gathered in Carrbridge on Sunday to compete for the coverted Golden Spurtle Award. Sgt Coleen Hayward MacLeod is in charge of making sure porridge is on the daily breakfast menu for the 300 - 400 troops from the 1st Royal Irish Regiment stationed at Fort George near Inverness . Originally from Stornoway, Coleen has served with the army for the past 18 years. As well as a posting in Iraq , she has travelled far and wide including Hong Kong and Kenya and has just returned from an army exercise in Jamaica . Delighted to take the world porridge making title, she commented: "There was some very strong competition and a lot of very good professional chefs taking part in the championship. I just didn't expect to do so well."
As well as the Golden Trophy Award, the World Porridge Making Champion was presented with a £350 hotel voucher and £250 spending money from the event's main sponsors, oatmeal producers Hamlyns of Scotland.
In the speciality category, sponsored by Columba Cream, the first prize went to Grampian Chef 2006 Addy Daggert of The Cock Bull at Balmedie - the only Michelin recommended gastopub in the North East of Scotland.
The 35-year-old Dutchman, who was last year among the runners up, explained that porridge is a particular favourite, especially during the winter months. His winning recipe of white chocolate porridge with stewed autumn fruits and whisky cream won the day for its consistency, taste and presentation. The delighted chef was awarded the Duncan Hilditch Memorial Trophy named in honour of porridge making legend and four times world champion Duncan Hilditch and a £150 cash prize.
The championship attracted a strong line up of competitors from across Scotland as well other parts of the UK along with a porridge making expert who travelled all the way from Sweden . They included professional chefs, guest house owners, professional caterers and individuals keen to prove they could make a perfect bowl of porridge. Among the line up was an engineer who has written a book about porridge and a retired chartered accountant with a passion for porridge. They were joined by one time boarding school cook, 81-year-old Mary Collinge from Girvan and retired farmer, Alec Coutts (81) from Inverness who was representing Australian porridge enthusiasts, Velvet and Alastair Perston. Unable to travel to Scotland to take part in the contest themselves, the Aussie pensioners launched a down under hunt for a Scot to enter on their behalf.
This year's judges included Colin Bussey, Executive Head Chef of the prestigious Gleneagles Hotel, the hotel's head pastry chef, Neil Mugg and former Scottish Master Chef winner and celbrity cookery writer and demonstrator, Fi Bird of Stirrin' Stuff.
The annual contest is organised by Carrbridge Community Council whose chairman, Mr Scott Bruce was delighted at the success of this year's event. "There was a very high standard of competitors of various nationalities which gave the whole contest a real international flavour and led to some very tense moments particularly when it came to the final cook off," he said. With an ever increasing interest in porridge from around the world, Mr Bruce went on to point out that as well as the village hall being packed with spectators, the event is followed on the Golden Spurtle website across the globe. "In the week before the championship the website was attracting more than 600 visits a day along with a huge amount of media interest from both national press and radio as well as well as catering magazines," he said. Thanking all the sponsors and everyone who had given up their time to help on the day, Mr Bruce added that as well as the serious side to the contest, it had also been good fun with the audience getting into the spirit of the event and cheering on each of the competitors.
The championship got off to a flying start with a Toast to the Porridge and the procession of judges and competitors to the village hall led by the Badenoch and Strathspey Pipe Band.
Among the other added attractions was the Carrbridge Challenge Fun Run sponsored by Nairn's Oatcakes, an aerobic warm up led by local fitness instructor, Sam Bain, the Cairngorms Farmers Market, product tastings, Stoat's Porridge Bar, a belly dancing demonstration by Sisters of the Desert, live music and street entertainment.
The fun run prizes were presented by Carrbridge ski racer and British Junior Downhill Champion, Emma Norton with each competitor receiving a specially designed Golden Spurtle medal with enscripted commemorative wooden spurtles and farmers market vouchers presented to each of the overall winners.
The World Porridge Making Championships was organised with the support of the UseVenue Northern Periphary Programme European Regional Development Fund, Inverness , Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise, the Highland Year of Culture, Highland 2007, Gleaners Oils & Gas, Cairngorm Mountain , Roy Brown E-commerce, The Weaver Spar Shop, The Cairn Hotel, The Speyside Heather Centre and Walkers of Aberlour.
Further information about the championship can be found on the website at www.goldenspurtle.com. Also see Photos for media use page.
For further information please contact:: Louise Harley, Event PR. Tel: 0141 621 0250
Linda Jolly, Event Co-ordinator, Tel: 01479 841 211
© 2006 - Carrbridge Community Council