It doesn’t get much more Yorkshire than this An idyllic setting, the velvet sounds of a brass band, delicious beer and of course pork pies and mushy peas. Butchers from all over the country pitted their pies against one another at the 14^th Annual Pork Pie Competition at the Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden, on Saturday. And once more Hinchliffe’s Farm Shop, Netherton, scooped first place.

This latest accolade comes just a week after the Holme Valley farm shop won a UK champion of champions’ event for its pork, cheddar and chive sausages. The day raised about £2,000 for the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust, which aims to build a hospice for children in Kirklees or Calderdale, and to the Elland Silver Youth Band who were playing throughout the day.

Peter Charnley, secretary of the Pork Pie Appreciation Society which organised the event, said: “We’ve had more than 60 entries this year, the most we’ve ever had. It’s just getting bigger and bigger.” He said each butcher had entered four pies into the competition but they had also donated 12. These were then sold with the proceeds going to charity.

“It’s been very busy with lots of people rushing in with nice piles of warm pies,” he said. “It’s been a lovely atmosphere.”

Butchers from as far a field as Somerset, Keswick and Newark took part.

And Mr Charnley said there were some regional differences.

“The Midland pies tend to have a greyer meat whereas we tend to have a pink meat.”

But he said there were some universal favourites. “Everybody loves good meat and crispy pastry!” he said. The judging was split into three cat­egories, taste appearance and cross section, and scored out of a possible 60 marks.

Mr Charnley added: “It’s really a cel­ebration of good, locally-produced, fresh food.”

Sue Maddock, from Rishworth, said:

“It’s been fantastic. We have got some friends up from London for the day and they’ve really enjoyed it.

“They said the men are such gentlemen John Birnie was also enjoying the event. “It’s the first time I’ve ever been even though I live in Sowerby Bridge,” he said.

“It’s great. I’ve seen it in the papers every year and I just thought I’d come along and

it’s been very nice.” But the day was best summed up by landlord Tim Eaton Walker “What more can you ask for? A brass band, a pork pie and mushy peas and a pint of Timothy Taylor’s. Heaven!”