The competition was held at Jimmy’s Festival 2017, with each of the entries being blind tasted by a top chef and a variety of food sector expert judges. This mix made sure each sausage was judged thoroughly and fairly.

Boreray Sheep

Anyone could enter from those who sell native breed sausages to family and friends, through to those who sell at local markets, independent retailers or via online shops.

The competition was a fantastic opportunity to promote our rare and native breeds of livestock, and had the backing of our partners including Jimmy’s Farm, Slow Food UK, the British Pig Association and the British Lop Society.

Each entry was awarded 0 to 3 stars:

★★★ Exceptional, it could not get better

★★ First rate, we’d go out of our way to buy these

★ Fantastic, we’d be delighted if our butcher sold these

Following the competition, the three star sausages were judged by a separate expert panel, to crown the overall champion with the 3 star gold award.

CHAMPION: Raskelf Rare and Heritage Breeds Boreray Lamb Sausage ★★★ Gold

BEST PORK: Trevaskis Farm British Lop Pork Sausage ★★★ Gold

BEST BEEF SAUSAGE: The Butchery Ltd Dexter, South Devon, Hereford Beef Sausage ★★★ Gold

SADDLEBACK X GLOUCESTERSHIRE OLD SPOT:The Primrose Herd, Sausage ★★★ Gold

Our judges enjoyed tasting the entries and gave some very positive feedback.

Jimmy Doherty, RBST President said;
‘Judging this competition proved to me that pedigree pork, beef and lamb are the best’.

Jon Gay, Head Chef at Jimmy’s Farm said;
“This is my fourth year of sausage competitions with Jimmy and these were the best so far”.

Shane Holland, Chairman of Slow Food UK said;
“A great day was had by all, and the standard of sausages was fantastic”.

RBST CEO Tom Beeston said:
“The competition was so close, we didn’t have one entry that I wouldn’t be happy to serve to guests at home. It was a great showcase of native pedigree products and I urge the public to ask their local butcher if they have any rare or native breed meat. It may seem counter-intuitive, but eating rare breed meat is a great way to support a breed. By buying and eating this meat, you are supporting breeders making it possible for them to keep our rare breeds alive.’

Full Results

Product name	Star(s)	Company name
Boreray Lamb Sausage	★★★ CHAMPION SAUSAGE	Raskelf Rare and Heritage Breeds
British Lop Pork Sausage	★★★ BEST PORK SAUSAGE	Trevaskis Farm
Dexter, South Devon, Hereford Beef Sausage	★★★ BEST BEEF SAUSAGE	The Butchery Ltd
Saddleback x Gloucestershire Old Spot Sausage	★★★ BEST SADDLEBACK SAUSAGE	The Primrose Herd
Dorset Down Lamb Sausage	★★★	The Butchery Ltd
British Lop Pork and Fennel Sausage	★★★	Thatched House Farm
Saddleback Pork sausage	★★★	Heckstall and Smith
Pork, Berkshire and Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork Sausage	★★★	Perfect Pork
Oxford Sandy and Black Pork Sausage	★★★	Parkhill House
Wiltshire Horn Lamb Sausage	★★	Bourton Farmed Foods
British Lop Pork Chipolata	★★	Trevaskis Farm
Saddleback, Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork Sausage	★★	The Butchery Ltd
Large Black, Gloucestershire Old Spot Cumberland sausage	★★	The Primrose Herd
Large Black, Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork Chorizo sausage	★★	The Primrose Herd
Saddleback, Rusk Pork Sausage	★★	Chypraze Farm
Welsh Pork Sausage	★★	Oinc Oink
Oxford Sandy and Black Pork Smoked Cheese Sausage	★	Bourton Farmed Foods
Saddleback Pork Sausage	★	Raskelf Rare and Heritage Breeds
Saddleback Pork Sausage	★	The Butchery Ltd
Large Black, Saddleback Pork Chipolata	★	The Primrose Herd
Large Black, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Saddleback Pork Sausage	★	The Primrose Herd
British Lop Pork Sausage	★	Thatched House Farm
Tamworth Pork Sausage	★	Buttle Farm
Hebridean Lamb Sausage	★	Heckstall and Smith
Welsh Pork Sausage	★	Swans Farm Shop
Gloucestershire Old Spot Pork Sausage	★	Auchinbreck Farm
Oxford Sandy and Black Pork Sausage	★	River Croft
Tamworth Pork Sausage	★	Grimblethorpe Hall
Saddleback, Pork Sausage	★	Oinc Oink
Gloucestershire Old Spot, Large White Pork Sausage	★	Nichols Family Butchers
Gloucestershire Old Spot, Large White, Pork Sage and Onion Sausage	★	Nichols Family Butchers
Gloucestershire Old Spot, Large White, Toulouse Pork Sausage	★	Nichols Family Butchers

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