A NETHERTON farm shop scooped the top spot at the annual pork pie competition in Ripponden, just pipping its local rival to the top spot.

Enthusiastic pork pie fanciers and bakers descended to the famous Old Bridge Inn for the event which is now a firm fixture on the West Yorkshire calendar.

The event, now in its 20th year, is organised by the Calderdale-based Pork Pie Appreciation Society.

Hinchliffe’s Farm Shop fought off stiff competition to win the coveted pie makers contest with Bolster Moor Farm Shop coming in second just nine points behind.

Hinchliffe’s scored 398 and Bolster Moor Farm Shop 389.

The finalists in the contest were judged by a panel of experts including celebrity chef Brian Turner.

Pork Pie Appreciation Society secretary Peter Charnley said: “Butchers and bakers make a special effort for the competition and the standard is always very high.

“It’s also a celebration of good local products and a showcase of what we have to offer.”

Asked what makes a good pork pie, he added: “The taste is obviously the most important. You want succulent meat, well seasoned with a little bit of jelly.

“It has to be something you want to eat more of!”

He said judges were looking at the texture, cross section of the pie and the taste when whittling down the 58 entrants over three rounds.

There were pie-making demonstrations, music and an appearance from Stewart Booth of Calderdale – who, as well as being a member of the society, is better known as Pork Pie Man.

He is such a pork pie fanatic he had a three-tiered pork pie at his recent wedding instead of a traditional wedding cake and the pork pie contest had been put back a month as he was on honeymoon with new wife, Joanne.

Enjoying the event was Jackie Foster, 58, who had come to visit with her family from Midgley near Flockton.

“It’s fantastic,’’ she said. “It’s the first time we have been but the pies are excellent. There is a great feel to the event.”

Also enjoying the pies was Steven Cross, 33, from Ripponden.

He said: “We have lived here three years but never been before. I actually saw it advertised on twitter. It’s a great event.”

Proceeds from this year’s competition will be donated to the neighbouring St Bartholomew’s Church, where tours were held yesterday.

Other successful Huddersfield butchers were Eddie and Richard Grange from Slaithwaite who came sixth, Two Valleys in Meltham (9th) and Michael Thewlis from Golcar (10th).

For more information go to www.porkpieclub.com .