Plenty of bangers at comp

Sir John Hayes’ Sausage competition goes from strength-to-strength and is now in its 13th year.

South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes was delighted to once again chair the annual Butcher’s Pride sausage competition, now in its 13th year, in Spalding’s Cley Hall Hotel on March 15.
This year’s competition saw 29 sausages from South Holland, Boston, and the Deepings competing in two categories – Lincolnshire Sausage and Specialist Sausage.
The competition, devised by Sir John, was organised by George Bell and Mark Elsey of Moulton Chapel Butchers, with Sir John, as usual, chairing the panel of judges, which also included Boston College’s hospitality and catering lecturer Adrian Walker-Slade, Boston borough councillor Barrie Pierpoint, Lee Winter from Albert Bartlett Potatoes, Boston College governor Daniel Elkington, and Lincolnshire Free Press’ Duncan Browne, with students Matthew Smith and Alicia Price being the waiters.
Bycroft’s of Boston were winners of the Lincolnshire Sausage category for the second year in a row, with other entries rated ‘Highly commended’ including Shearers of Holbeach’s gluten free entry and Crowland Butcher’s Lincolnshire sausage.
In the Speciality category two entries shared the prize – Shearers’ Oriental Foo Kin Hot Choc and Grasmere Farm’ (from Deeping St James) Smoked Rutland. Highly Commended sausages in this category included the Moulton Chapel Beef, Mozzarella and Sundried Tomato sausage and Black Pepper from Ivy’s in Swineshead.
Trevor Sharp, who attended the event, has entered the competition every year and was awarded by the judges the accolade of ‘Master Sausage Maker’.
Sir John said: “Lincolnshire sausages are renowned for their exceptional quality across the country and beyond, and our sausage makers are exceptional too.
“Their skills and originality deserve the recognition this competition I began gives them.”