BRITISH FISH CRAFT CHAMPIONS CROWNED

British Fish Craft champions crowned – The recent British Fish Craft Championship held in Cardiff proved another successful event, according to organiser, the National Federation of Fishmongers (NFF).

Around 50 competitors took part from as far south as Cornwall and as far north as Aviemore in Scotland on the day that the British Fish Craft Champions were crowned.

There was a good representation from Tesco, with 10 entrants, and there were also two competitors from Morrisons.

The winning British Fish Craft Champion went for the second year running to Andrew Barker of Hodgson Fish in Hartlepool. The Craft Challenge Champion – which is a competition for anyone new to the industry or entering for the first time – went to Lee Roberts of Sailbrand.

This year saw many new sponsors – Le Lien Ltd, Shellfish Association of Great Britain, Direct Seafoods, Fresco Fisheries and the Welsh Seafood Cluster.

There were also two new competitions; the Fresco Fisheries Exotic and the Welsh Seafood Cluster, cooked Welsh products round, which attracted a good number of first-time entries.

Caroline Hooper of the NFF said: “It’s always good to see new faces coming through and doing well – in particular two ladies; Amy Smith of E Ashton Ltd, Cardiff and Sarah Webber of M & J Seafood.

“Over the weekend we also had the support of the Alaskan Marketing Seafood Institute, who had a display stand and gave us some superb fish on Saturday for our cooking and filleting demonstrations.”