Holmfirth Marmalade Strikes Gold, whilst Penistone wins Silver!

20th February 2011

Bob and Ann Thorpe from Holmfirth Country Market were both successful in striking Gold at the World’s Original Marmalade Festival held at Dalemain Mansion and Gardens in Cumbria on the 12th and 13th February.

Bob won two Golds, one for Fine Cut Seville and one for Mandarin and Whisky. Ann won her Gold for an Australian Marmalade recipe called Down Under Marmalade, (actually it’s made with grapefruit, pineapple, oranges and limes).

“I felt slightly miffed,” said Bob.

“I’d been trying for three years and had only picked up Silvers. I made this year’s marmalades with T.L.C. Ann comes along first time and picks up Gold. Although I’m very pleased to get two Golds, it was all something of an anti-climax. My ambitions were set on ‘Best in Show’." So I’ll have to try even harder next year.”

Sue Howell, from Penistone Country Market, also had success. She picked up Silver on her first attempt.

Sue explained her strange choice of category for her entry. “I was making a batch of normal Seville, but when I tasted it, it wasn’t just bitter, but really sour. I didn’t like it at all. So I decided to add some honey. That did the trick. I thought it tasted really good, so I put it in the 'Inventive' category. I also went up to Dalemain. It was a great day, beautiful gardens with carpets of aconites beneath the trees and literally thousands of marmalades and marmalade makers. And after the judging, they auctioned off the marmalades for charity. I loved the whole thing.”