BRITAIN will host a unique contest for the first time as the nation’s top butchers take on teams from Australia and New Zealand.

The Tri-Nations Butchers’ Challenge 2014, which has been organised by Eblex and the Q Guild of Butchers, takes place at the Great Yorkshire Show on Thursday, July 10.

It will see six of Britain’s most skilled butchers pitted against their Antipodean counterparts in a team challenge.

The teams will then hotfoot it down to London for the winners to be announced at the Supermeat & Fish Awards that evening. David Lishman, of Lishman’s of Ilkley, West Yorkshire, is captaining the British team for the second year in a row.

He said: “Having had the experience of last year’s event, and with home advantage this year, we are pretty confident that we can put on a prize-winning display.

“We have an exceptionallytalented team of Q Guild butchers who have taken part in many cutting competitions in the past, and we are very much looking forward to showcasing what British butchers are able to create in front of the massive crowd at the Great Yorkshire Show.

“It’s also important for us to demonstrate to those involved in livestock rearing how much effort and skill goes into their carefully-nurtured produce once it has left the farm.”

Each team is given a side of beef and a full lamb carcase with which to create their own cuts.

Independent judges from the three countries score in butchery skill, workmanship, product innovation, overall finish, presentation and/or display.

Teams can provide their own seasonings, spices, marinades and garnish to finish products designed for a modern retail outlet.

The contest will be the culmination of a ten-day study tour by the Australian and New Zealand teams who will gain an insight into the UK industry through farm visits, meetings with industry groups, retail visits and sharing best practices with butchery colleagues.

The contest is in its fourth year, having started life as the “Test Match”.

It’s the second year that a British team has taken part.

The initiative is designed to promote the uptake of best practice retail butchering in order to drive productivity, sustainability and profitability in the independent butchery sector.

Mr Lishman added: “The competitive aspect is the focus for all three teams. We each want to win and hold the title for the year ahead.

But this is also an opportunity to share good practice, and for youngsters who want to learn to learn from the best.”

The Great Britain trinations team includes: David Lishman, Ilkley, (captain); Richard Carter, Sutton Coldfield; Martin Crombie, Warwick; Robert Jones, Birmingham; James Lally, Shepperton; Nigel Rose, Birmingham.