TOM Oliver, of Oliver’s Cider and Perry, was awarded the title of overall champion at this year’s International Cider and Perry Competition organised by the Hereford Cider Museum.
Tom, based in Ocle Pychard, was awarded this prestigious title for his medium/sweet perry which was deemed to be outstanding in that particular class.
Other successful local cider producers included Peter Domanski, Woodredding Cider and Perry, Stuart Cooper, Guy Lawrence and Once Upon A Tree.
The list of winners (all based in Herefordshire unless otherwise stated) reads:
Class one - dry cider:
First: Peter Domanski, Stretfordbury, Leominster.
Second: Pips Cider, Dorstone.
Third: Swallowfields Real Cider and Perry, Hope Mansell.
Class two – medium cider:
First: Woodredding Cider and Perry, Yatton.
Second: Burrow Hill Cider, Martock, Somerset.
Third: Gwatkin Cider Co. Ltd, Abbey Dore.
Class three – sweet cider.
First: Burrow Hill Cider, Martock, Somerset.
Second: Pips Cider, Dorstone.
Third: Guy Lawrence, Much Marcle.
Class four – perry dry:
First: Stuart Cooper, Checkley.
Second: Troggi, Earlswood, Monmouthshire.
Third: Thatchers Cider, Sandford, Somerset.
Class five – perry medium/sweet
First: Oliver’s Cider and Perry, Ocle Pychard.
Second: Once Upon A Tree Ltd, Ledbury.
Third: Gwatkin Cider Co Ltd, Abbey Dore.
Class six – single variety cider.
First: Guy Lawrence, Much Marcle.
Second: Woodredding Cider and Perry, Yatton.
Third: Barnes and Adams, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.
Class seven – in-bottle fermented cider or perry.
First: Once Upon A Tree Ltd, Ledbury.
Second: Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden, Kent.
Third: Richard Johnson, Okehampton, Devon.
Highly Commended: Burrow Hill Cider, Martok, Somerset.
Class eight – best presented packaged cider or perry.
First: Priors Tipple, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Second: Ashridge Cider, Totnes, Devon.
Third: Thatchers Cider, Sandfor, Somerset.