The Royal Bath & West Society’s “British Cider Championships”, due to be staged for the first time at this year’s show (May 28-31) have won the backing of the National Association of Cider Makers.
The Royal Bath & West Show has been staging competitive classes for cider for well over 100 years, most recently as part of its hugely successful “Orchards and Cider” exhibition, but this is the first time it has organised a genuinely national championship.
Orchards and Cider Chairman, Anthony Gibson, said: “With over 500 entries last year, our cider competitions are already the biggest in Britain, and probably in Europe. So developing them into a national championship seemed the obvious and logical thing to do, in our mission to promote British cider as one of the finest drinks in the world.
“Winning the blessing of the NACM is hugely important because of the recognition which it provides that this will be a genuinely national championship, with industry-wide credibility and prestige. We’re expecting it to generate even more entries and even more publicity for the Champion British ciders.”
For the NACM, chairman Paul Bartlett, said: “British cider is going from strength to strength and we are delighted that the Royal Bath & West is organising these championships to raise the profile of the cider industry and celebrate the excellence of our products.
I would urge all British cider-makers, large and small, to get their entries in, so that the British Cider Championships become the biggest and the best possible showcase for the quality and variety of British cider.”
Entry forms are available on the Bath & West website.
(Photo ©Neil Worley)