A baker has beaten butchers to the title of World Scotch Pie Champion, as the postponed results of the contest were announced yesterday.

Maurice Irvine, fourth-generation baker of Irvine’s of Beith in Ayrshire, triumphed in the Scotch pie category, which included entries from eight past champions.

Gold 1st runner-up went to butchers Scott Brothers of Dundee, while gold 2nd runner-up went to butchers JB Houston of Dumfries.

The contest saw a total of 80 entries this year – from 50 butchers and 30 bakers, with only two from English-based businesses.

Irvine had been striving for the title for 11 years, and had come second, third and fourth in previous years.

“January is a slack time for bakers and this is a massive boost. I’ve won awards before for a number of products, but this is the big one,” he commented.

“I’m told that I’ll put 30% on my turnover from winning this title and I’ll be working hard to make sure that we do.”

Browning’s the Bakers took first place in the bridie category; MacDonald Bros won the sausage roll category; Little Bakery was triumphant in the vegetarian savouries category with its mixed vegetable pie; and Paul’s Quality Butcher was awarded the accolade for the best fish pie, for its trout, prawn and boiled egg pie variant.

T&R Skinner came top in the hot savouries category with its suet pudding; Thomas Auld & Sons was judged as having the best cold savoury, with its chicken, bacon, cranberry and chestnut pie; while Stuart’s of Buckhaven won the best steak pie category.

>>Scotch Pie Champion results postponed