BUTCHER WINS WORLD SCOTCH PIE TITLE

Paul Boyle's Boghall Pies are best, it's official

WORLD SCOTCH PIE COMPETITION
Overall Champion Paul Boyle, Boghall Butchers, Bathgate

GOLD MEDALS
Stuarts of Buckhaven

SILVER MEDALS
T Johnston & Son, Falkirk & Dunfermline
John Davies, Bo'ness
Murdoch Brothers, Forres

BRONZE MEDALS
Grossetts of Tayside
Wrights Butchers East Kilbride

Paul Boyle of Boghall butchers won the World Scotch Pie title in a presentation made at East End Park, Dunfermline on St Andrews Day. Paul has a successful business in the Boghall area of Bathgate having re-located there from the town centre to an area where one third of the Bathgate population live.

Paul was presented the huge replica pie trophy by Robert Ross, Chairman of the judges. His wife Christine who is manager of a Spar store in Linlithgow relayed the news back to the staff in the Boghall shop who just wouldn't believe her. Paul put his success down to good quality ingredients. He sources his beef from farmer Des Gracey at Bellshill; currently buys 180 dozen pie shells and lids from William Sword and uses his own blend of seasonings. He said:-

"Quality in, quality out. A lot of time and effort goes into our pie production. If something doesn't come up to standard our customers would soon let me know after all I am only 20 feet away. The best judges are those that buy it daily."

This was only the second time that Paul had entered the World Scotch Pie Competition and for this year's he said the difference was "attention to detail in everything you do."

This was a quality picked up from his father William (76) who started the business 30 years ago after working for Roy Baird in Bathgate for a number of years. Paul has been in the business now for 28 years and his daughter Mariesha has now joined him there along with a butcher and three other members of staff.

"We have made a name for ourselves for our pies. Most are sold within a six mile radius of Boghall but would like to think that this will attract people from other areas to sample the prize winning product. Hopefully my fame will go from there."

Stressing that the winning Scotch Pie was the same product as his customers can purchase day in day out, Paul who was starting at five in the morning before claiming the title can be assured that he is about to get even busier.

A record number of entries (127) ensured that a record number of bakers and butchers (130) attended the event. Alan Stuart, Buckhaven baker and butcher, was the master of ceremonies and before announcing the winners he revealed that next year the week running up to St Andrews Day will be National Pie Week. Run along the lines of National Doughnut Week the Scottish Autism Charity will benefit with a percentage of all pie sales going their way.