Bakers from Cornwall to the US are preparing for next year’s World Pasty Championships.

Amateur bakers, companies, professionals and juniors will compete in Cornish pasty and non-traditional classes at the Eden Project, Cornwall on 29 February 2020. Entries opened yesterday (18 November 2019).

“I am already feeling excited about coming back to the World Pasty Championships after what has been a fantastic year for me and my Kentish Knocker pasties,” said Jill Martin from Deal in Kent, whose pasties claimed first and third prizes in the Open Savoury Professional category at the last event in March.

Pure Pasty Company from Vienna, competing for the fourth year running, has taken home awards in the last two World Pasty Championships.

The company won the Open Savoury Company class in the 2018 competition, with a barbeque chicken pasty containing pineapple, and earlier this year was a winner in the same category with a turkey and cranberry creation.

“We love representing Cornwall in America and vice versa. We are looking for a ‘threepeat’ in our class. We know it’s a long shot with the quality of the competition, but once again we will be giving it our best,” said Mark ‘The Pasty’ Burgess, owner of the Pure Pasty Company.

Open Savoury Amateur category champion Don McKeever will also be returning. With four wins and one second place to his name, McKeever will be bringing along a group of Bristolian pasty fans who have supported and competed at the event since it began.

The World’s Fastest Crimper competition will return for the second year, with the final taking place at the Eden Project on the day of the championships.

The championships will take place as the finale of Cornish Pasty Week, which is being held for the third year running and starts on 23 February.

“In its short history, I’ve been staggered by the way people right across the globe have got behind Cornish Pasty Week – testament indeed to the love that exists for Cornwall’s hero product,” said Jason Jobling, chairman of the Cornish Pasty Association (CPA).

The week is organised with the Eden Project’s help by the CPA, which represents the £300m-a-year pasty industry.

The aim is to get as many people as possible involved in pasty-making and to raise awareness of the classic Cornish pasty recipe, which has been given protected status by the European Commission.

“I’m thrilled that the Cornish Pasty Association has made this happen and we’re looking forward to another jam-packed week of pasty fun in 2020, culminating in the ninth World Pasty Championships at Eden,” added Jobling.

The association’s mascots, Mr and Mrs Pasty, will be touring Cornwall to visit producers of pasty ingredients around the Duchy. The week will also feature offers, competitions and in-store events hosted by CPA bakeries.

Entries for this year’s World Pasty Championships are now open via the Eden Project website and close at midnight on 23 February.