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After a
hardened battle between the big cheeses a team of Cheshire cheese
high-rollers narrowly beat rivals Joseph Heler Cheese, who were
rolling down the cobbles of Bridge Street, Chester for the first time
this year. Cheshire negotiated this year's new obstacle course of
farm-yard animals and kept their cool, their title and the cup to
roll their way into the record books to launch the sixth Chester Food
and Drink Festival to be held over the Easter weekend.
Hundreds of
spectators lined Chester's ancient Bridge Street Rows to gain a
vantage point. Sheriff of Chester Cllr. David Hughes started each
race involving teams from Cheshire, Lancashire, Stilton and Joseph
Heler's Cheese of Nantwich, who are celebrating their 50th
anniversary this year of producing traditional cheese.
Cheshire
Cheese is, along with the grinning Cheshire Cat, one of the region's
most famous exports and seasoned cheese roller Nick Birchall of The
Cheese Shop in Northgate Street led the victorious Cheshire Team.
Stephen
Wundke, Chairman of the Chester Food and Drink Festival, said:
"The
cheese rolling event always launches the annual Chester Food &
Drink Festival on a roll. It is fast becoming one of the biggest food
festivals in the country especially now we're running it over the
Easter weekend."
Other members
of the winning 'Made in Cheshire' team included Neal Bates, co-owner
of Brasserie 10/16, Paul Dickin of Cheshire County Council and Peter
Clayton of Larkton Hall Cheese in Malpas.
There was a
producer's market near The Cross with five stalls selling quality
local fayre, including Linda's Superior Soups of Wallasey, Northgate
Street's The Cheese Shop, Joseph Benjamin's Restaurant and
Delicatessan of Northgate Street, Alison's Homemade of Nantwich and a
Cheshire Cheese stall comprising Joseph Heler Cheese, Belton Cheese
of Whitchurch and Reese's Creamery of Malpas. Entertainment was
provided by Edam and the Ants bringing their own brand of cheesy
tunes to the proceedings.
For more
information about other events happening over the Chester Food &
Drink Festival please visit www.chesterfoodanddrink.com.
Chester's Food
and Drink Festival is organised on behalf of Chester City Council
with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA),
Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and
Warrington, Cheshire County Council, Made in Cheshire, North West
Fine Foods and the Rural Recovery Fund.
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