The nations’ most tender and tasty lamb has been found in the final of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies, held at the Wanaka A&P Show.
Hamish Buchanan’s Highlander Primera Texel X from Dannevirke knocked its competitors out of the park with his superior lamb entry claiming the Grand Champion title, the coveted trophy and $2,500 in prize money.
Following scientific testing at Carne Technologies, over 150 entries were whittled down to just twenty, which then went on to be tasted in a final sponsored by Zoetis.
The judging panel including Iron Maidens Lisa Carrington, Georgina Earl (nee Evers-Swindell) and Sarah Walker alongside foodwriter Lauraine Jacobs, Beef and Lamb Ambassador Chef Reon Hobson and Head Judge and chef Graham Hawkes were put to the test with the high calibre of entries this year.
“I’ve been a judge at the Glammies a few times now and I know a lot about the elements I’m looking for – not just taste but tenderness and texture too,” said Walker. “I enjoy meeting the farmers who are delivering such a great product to New Zealanders and consumers in markets around the world,” added Carrington, “they’re a pretty talented bunch and it’s great to be able to recognise them,”
Also awarded was the title of Retail Champion, which went to Countdown Meat & Livestock with their Suffolk Southdown X from Grafton Trust, Timaru.
The Grand Champion’s winning entry was processed at Alliance Dannevirke.
