Serving up a tasty tradition
Hundreds packed into Mytholmroyd Community Centre to see an old hand come out of retirement to win the 2014 World Dock Pudding Championship. Philip Berkeley, who last won the event in 1997, fried up a storm once again to see of six other competitiors, which included a brother and sister who entered separately
Mr Berkeley, 65, a part-time lecturer from Hebden Bridge, said: “I entered it because I’m 65 this year and I won it in 1994 and 1997, so I thought seeing as I’m 65, let’s see if I can achieve the hat-trick, and I’ve done it! It felt like 20 years ago again when they called my name out. I thought ‘ good heavens’. I’m also very pleased because think my dock pudding is a darn good one!”
For the first time ever, this year’s championship was accompanied by a mini food festival, with stall holders selling wine, fudge, savoury snacks and more, joining the traditional car boot sale. And organiser Julie Wilby thanked all involved, saying that the food festival added an extra string to the bow of the dock pudding contest.
“It has gone really well. I wanted more stalls, but all the stallholders who were here have been impressed,” she said.
“If we can grow on this mini food festival event it makes it more of a food championships, rather than just dock pudding and car boot sales.”
Julie thanked the contestants, the judges, members of the public for attending and all the stall holders.
The championship, which dates back to 1971, saw entrants fry the local delicacy made from dock leaves, nettles, onion, oatmeal and seasoning. Coming a close second to Mr Berkeley was Daisy Hunter, while previous champion Jenny Whitehouse was third.
After Mr Berkeley was presented with his trophy - the Halifax Courier cup - a bunch of flowers were given to a championship stalwart Doris Hirst for her years of service to the event.
Event judge Calderdale Councillor Richard Marshall ( Con, Luddenden Foot), who praised the standard of this year’s entries, said: “Doris Hirst must be the master chef when it comes to dock pudding. She’s been doing it all these years she’s been instrumental in keeping it alive and well. It’s essential that it’s kept going. It’s important that it’s in the calendar every year.”
Hebden Royd Mayor Coun Karl Boggis, who acted as MC