A taste for the best in Hampshire

PR director Alyson Marlow says that buying and eating sausages will never be the same again after being invited as a guest judge in the recent Great Hampshire sausages, pie and ready meal competition organised by Hampshire Fare.

She joined professional judge Michael Kirk and Fuller’s operations manager Rod Bailey in judging the speciality pork sausage category – one of 14 toughly fought categories in this annual contest.

The competition, held at Sparsholt College, attracted 197 individual entries from 28 Hampshire butchers and meat farmers.

“It was a real education seeing what the professional judges look for in a good sausage,’’ said Alyson. “We dissected and tasted some amazing sausages and it was tremendous to see so many Hampshire producers taking part with such enthusiasm.’’

The overall honours went to Martin Martindale of Greenfield Pork Products in Andover, including my category with his pork, pear and ginger sausage.

Alyson is pictured with professional judge Michael Kirk.