'Biggest ever' World Stovies Championship won by north east community mainstay
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A LEADING light in a north east town has been named World Stovies Champion – 15 years after winning the inaugural event.
Pat Scott's traditional stovies triumphed in the "very, very close" 2023 World Stovies Championship – judged blindly by Bank Café and Restaurant head chef Glen Cameron – which received more entries than ever before.
The Huntly contest, held on the morning of this year's "really successful" Hairst day (Saturday, September 2), saw Hairst chairperson Pat's entry win the day based "purely on flavour", Mr Cameron said.
Community champion Pat, the 2022 Huntly Citizen of the Year alongside husband Sandy, retired from Northern Scot sister paper the Huntly Express in 2022 after 44 years with the paper.
Having won the very first World Stovies Championship in 2008, she said her long wait for a second title made her think the first win was: "a flash in the pan".
“I'm fairly chuffed," Pat said.
“I sort of thought it was a bit of a flash in the pan the first time.
“But I suppose it just shows that my own basic ingredients can be tasty.
“It's been a very big and busy week for me. So I’m well chuffed, really chuffed."
Pat had been impressed by her dish's flavour during the cooking process, despite earlier worrying it might end up "too mushy".
She said: “When I tasted them yesterday, I thought: ‘Ooh, you’re really tasty.’
“Which was really surprising, because I was quite concerned they were too mushy.
“Although, as I say, when I had a wee bit I did think they were affa tasty."
The runner-up World Champion honours went to Shaun McLeod.
"It seems like I’ve put on a good display," he said.
"It’s really quite good to come second."
And in third place, rising stovies star Kenny Gabriel said he: “really didn’t expect" to be so successful.
The alternative stovies category, which gave cooks the freedom to take stovies in any new direction imaginable, was won by Jane Meldrum from Buckie.
Hairst organiser Kay Thomson said this year's World Championship saw a record number of entries, as did the festival's Dean's-sponsored shortbread contest.
“We received the most entries we have had for the stovies, and for the shortbread competition," she said.
“And they are getting even bigger and better next year."
“I’m delighted to say that we have had a good number of entries," Pat said.
“We have been working really hard to promote it and have tried really hard to get it to take off.
“We are hoping that this year’s success will have built it up a bit.
“It was really good to see more engagement with it."
Charlotte Hanna succeeded in the Deans Desserts competition, new for this year, whereas top shortbread honours went to Jennifer Burke Baird.
Anita Gabriel's shortbread entry earned her the runner-up spot and Zuzanna Fryntova took third place.
In the Children's Bake-Off competition, hosted and judged at Sinclair's of Rhynie on Duke Street, Huntly's younger cooks had their chance to shine with a "showstopper cake".
Entries were split into two categories: a junior group for those aged between 10 and 14; and a 15 to 18 seniors category.
Abbie Matheson won the top junior prize and Godwin Wright was named senior winner.
Asked whether she plans to defend her title at next year's Hairst, 2023 World Stovies Champion Pat said: “I might have another go, why not?
“Especially as I have more time now than I used to."
