The finalists of the 2015 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies, have been announced. Following stringent scientific testing, over 150 entries have been narrowed down to 20 in the search for the nation’s most tender and tasty lamb. This year, Nosh Food Market and Countdown Meat & Livestock are among the finalists in the Retail class.
The 20 finalists will have to be of supreme quality if they want to capture the attention of the six judges at the Grand Final held at the Wanaka A&P Show on March 13. This year’s judging panel includes sporting superstars and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Iron Maidens Lisa Carrington, Sarah Walker and Caroline Meyer (nee Evers-Swindell), alongside head judge Graham Hawkes.
The competition asks farmers nationwide to submit their lamb leg entries in the hope of taking home the $2,000 prize money and the prestigious Glammies Grand Champion Trophy. Retailers are also hotly contending for the title of Retail Champion.
Carne Technologies General Manager, Nicola Simmons says the tests they run look at yield and the attributes which are relevant to the end product. “We analyse each lamb leg entry using objective measurements for tenderness, colour and succulence as these are ultimately factors which affect the consumer’s eating experience,” says Simmons.
The 2015 finalists are:
Class 1: Best of Breed – Traditional Fraser & Sara Briant, Gisborne (Coopworth) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Annie & Graham Carmichael, Matiere (Romney) processed at Taylor Preston Don Morrison, Gore (Romney/Growbulk) processed at Alliance Lorneville Andrew Paterson, Omakau (Polwarth) processed at Silver Fern Farms Fairton
Class 2: Best of Breed – Crossbreed Robbie Gibson, Cromwell (Merino/Southdown) processed at Ashburton Meat Processors Bruce Lamb, Tokanui (Romney/Southdown Poll Dorset) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Hamish Mackay, Gore (Romney/Texel) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Don Morrison, Gore (Growbulk) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Class 3: Best of Breed – Terminal X
Hamish Buchanan, Dannevirke (Highlander Primera/Texel) processed at Alliance Dannevirke
Don Morrison, Gore (Growbulk/ Charollais) processed at Alliance Lorneville Richard Morrison, Marton (Ezicare) processed at Taylor Preston
Lynley & Matt Wyeth, Masterton (Highlander/Primera) processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
Class 4: Best of Breed – Open James & Liane Crutchley, Palmerston (Romney/Texel) processed at Lean Meats Oamaru
Boyd Manson, Invercargill (Highlander/Blackface Composite) processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane
Timothy Williams, Clinton (Growbulk) processed at Alliance Lorneville
Toby Williams, Gisborne (Romney/Suffolk) processed at Progressive Meats Hastings
Class 5: Retail Chef Ready Meats, Hamilton (Texel/Romney) Countdown Meat & Livestock (Suffolk/Southdown) Countdown Meat & Livestock (Suffolk/Southdown) Nosh Food Market (Black Rock Butchery) (Romney/Dorset)
