Sat Oct 08 07:36:31 UTC 2011
Ten experts battled it out in the blistering heat - their special boerewors sizzling over perfectly prepared fires, the supportive roar of fascinated crowds urging them on, and concentration momentarily giving way to dreams of the sought-after crown - but there could only be one Champion.
And finally, after 4 months of mincing, spicing and tasting, and 3 rounds of elimination during which more than 1000 entrants were whittled down to only the top ten, the coveted title of Boerewors Champion was at long last awarded with great fanfare to Jasper Johannes Gordon at the exciting grand finale held in Sun City’s Valley of Waves on 8 October.
This truly South African event is presented by Shoprite and Checkers annually to provide all aspiring boerewors makers to show their flair for producing the tastiest traditional boerewors in the country. This national competition, now in its nineteenth year, also helps the supermarket group to find a traditional boerewors recipe that will appeal to ever changing tastes of the majority of consumers in the country, and enables Shoprite Checkers to produce a quality product that reflects the value on offer in the Meat Market departments of all its supermarkets and hyper stores.
Jasper (42), who hails from Strand in the Western Cape, was crowned Boerewors King and received the grand prize of a brand-new Toyota Hilux 2.7 Double Cab Raised Body Raider. He also received a R2500 holiday voucher from All Gold, R2000 Coca Cola cash prize and R750 worth of Simba vouchers.
Jasper is an old hand at the Championship Boerewors battles. He has participated in this competition 9 times and went to Sun City as finalist in 2005 and 2010 - earning 3rd place overall in the last year’s Championship. This year his persistence finally paid off and Jasper was elated by his victory.
The runner-up and second runner-up also did not leave empty handed. Second place was awarded to this year’s only female finalist, Portia Khumalo from Protea Glen in Gauteng, who won a R10 000 Holiday voucher from All Gold, R5 000 Coca Cola cash prize, and R1 500 worth of Simba vouchers. Josias Schutte from Welkom in the Free State, took third place and received a R5 000 Holiday voucher from All Gold, a R3 000 Coca Cola cash prize and R1 000 worth of Simba vouchers.
This year the Championship Boerewors competition proved to be as popular as ever and with the vast amount of entries received it took 87 regional and 10 provincial elimination rounds, during which 400 judges from the South African Chef’s association had to taste and assess more than 47 000 pieces or raw and cooked boerewors, to eventually find only the ten best who would take on the final battle in Sun City.
At the grand finale an independent judging panel comprising of top food experts Martin Kobald, Francois Ferreira, Carmen Niehaus, Jenny Morris, Arnold Tanzer and Siba Mtongana had the challenging task of singling out one winner from this year’s selection of truly unique and outstanding finalists’ entries. Entries were initially judged in raw form, followed by a braai-off during which contestants had to prepare their own secret recipe boerewors to the best of their abilities.
Actress Brümilda van Rensburg and rugby-legend Naas Botha were compères for the day and entertained the crowds on the beach. They were joined on stage by some of South Africa’s most talented entertainers such as Sorina (“die Flooze”), Jak de Priester, Snotkop and Jay, with special appearances by Nataniël, Kurt Darren, Mandoza, Breyton Paulse and Shaleen Surtie-Richards.
The other seven finalists who competed for the title and the grand prize were: Rudolf Cornelius Herrmann from Queenstown who was also a top ten finalist in 2010; 14-year old Jaco Labuschagne, the 2010 Boerewors Champion, who is a learner at EG Jansen High School in Boksburg; Nelson Shandu from Durban; Frans Motidi Letsekga from Polokwane; Elias Elijah Nkosi from Nelspruit; Titus Mothusi Boyesa from Brits; and Piet Lesley from Kuruman who was also a finalist in the 2006 Boerewors Championship.
Boerewors-lovers across South Africa will not have to wait too long to enjoy the supermarket group’s new traditional taste sensation as the 2011 Champion Boerewors will be available in the Meat Markets of all Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores countrywide as from Friday, 14 October.
The 2011 Shoprite Checkers Championship Boerewors will receive the South African Chefs Association’s Seal of Approval, ensuring that South Africa’s best loved boerewors brand is the best of the very best!
For more information on winners, prizes and competition events visit the Championship Boerewors web site: www.championshipboerewors.co.za.