Marshalled ranks of meat pies, sausages and black puddings made an impressive sight during the hunt for the county’s finest pork products which took place at Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.

The 25th Great Yorkshire Pork Pie, Sausage & Products Competition was organised by the Confederation of Yorkshire Butchers Councils today.

And being the UK’s biggest regional meat trades competition, it attracted entries from top butchers.

CYBC president Steve Martin, who runs Bentley’s Butchers in Pudsey and is himself a past Great Yorkshire pork-pie and sausage supreme champion, said: “It’s a very special anniversary year. There are lots of these competitions across the country, but this is the one that everyone wants to win.”

Those hoping for some Bradford wins in the sausage classes of thin, thick and speciality were disappointed with honours going to butchers from Wakefield and Huddersfield.

But heads were held high when it came to prizes for black pudding, with the Keelham Farm Shop, Thornton, taking first prize and Metcalfes of Cleckheaton scooping second.

Delighted butchers Andrew Scholes and Lee Scott said their victory was down to a truly traditional approach.

Mr Scott, who has been at Keelham Farm Shop for 24 years, said: “We really do make the puddings all by hand – we even cut all the back fat by hand, there’s no machinery used at all.”

Mr Scholes joked: “The secret of our champion black pudding is – a secret!”

Long-established Otley butcher George Middlemiss picked up third spot in the 1lb stand pork pie class, but was quickly followed by a resounding win for B&M Collins of Westgate, Cleckheaton, who won best small pork pie. “It’s a family firm run my parents, my brothers and me,” said Mary Johnson , who collected the prestigious trophy as well as Pork Pie Reserve Supreme Champion