THE next generation of butchers shone at the BPEX North East Roadshow against stiff competition from 333 other entries – including their parents.

Among them was Charlotte Atkinson, from Elite Meat in Starbeck, Harrogate, who took the overall championship title – in her competition debut – a title which has so far escaped her multi-award winning father.

Charlotte, who recently joined her father full-time in the family’s Q-Guild Butcher’s shop, gained the title with her own caramelised onion pork pate.

She said: “I’m utterly thrilled to win on my first competition entry; I can’t wait to compete again in the national final. I’ve learnt everything from my dad so feel this is a joint prize.

“We are both delighted as he has won national sausage, ready meal, cooked meat, beef and lamb championships but he has never claimed this prize.”

Mr Gordon Atkinson said: “We’re absolutely over the moon. Not only was this Charlotte’s first accolade, the Overall Champion title is one I never got, so I’m a very proud dad indeed. Many of the butchers here have been friends and competition adversaries for many years, so to see our children carry on the award-winning ways is a real joy.”

The shop offers locally reared meat including highquality mutton and lamb reared by Mr Atkinson’s brother, Andrew, who farms 40 acres at Kettlesing and a further 170 acres in the surrounding area.

Other champions included Newby Hall Farm Shop, Boroughbridge, who won the home-cured bacon and gammon section with their horseshoe rasher. The shop’s meat is reared on their own farm and manager, Mark Maxwell, said: “This is a fantastic result.

We’re very proud of our meats and the quality rightly speaks for itself.”

Mainsgill Farm Shop, on the A66 near East Layton, won the pork ready meals title with their creamy pork and potato bake.

Among the other awards William Peat Butchers, of Barnard Castle, won 14 – eight golds, four silver and two bronze. David Higginson, who helps his father, Jim, run the shop, said they had never done so well.

Stokesley Butchers won five golds, seven silver and one bronze; Knitsley Grange Farm Shop, Consett, won eight gold, six silver and one bronze; Dropswell Farm Shop, Trimdon Village, took three gold and four silver; Mainsgill Farm Shop won four gold and seven silver; Elite Meat took two gold and three silver; Newby Hall Farm Shop, won one gold, three silver and one bronze.

Ainsty Farms Direct, Green Hammerton, won two gold, two silver and two bronze; Arthur Haigh Ltd, Thirsk, gained two gold; Beavers Butchers, Ripon, won three gold; Fodder, Harrogate, took five silver and one bronze; Mcfarlane Family Butchers, Barnard Castle, won one gold and four bronze; Voakes Pies, Whixley, York, won one gold and four silver; and Masham Sausages, Ripon, won one gold and one silver.