BATH & WEST 2014: Drink up ye cider!

TWO Somerset cider-makers have scooped the top awards in the inaugural British Cider Championships at the Royal Bath and West Show.

Bob Chaplin, of Doulting near Shepton Mallet, took the Fruiterers' Trophy for the Supreme Champion British Cider, for his Broadpool Cider dry and was presented with his award by Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson MP, on Thursday (May 29, 2014).

John Hecks, of Hecks Farmhouse Cider, of Street, was awarded the Pewterers' Trophy for the Champion British Farmhouse Cider, for his dry cider.

Bob Chaplin is one of the most respected figures in the cider-making world in the South-West, having won many awards over the years in his spare time from his full-time job as Orcharding Manager for the Shepton Mallet Cider Mill. The winning cider was part of a small batch made in his garage at home last autumn from a mixture of Yarlington Mill cider apples and Spartan dessert apples.

“This is the pinnacle,” he said later. "To have won the very first British Cider Championships is the high point of my cider-making career. There can't be any greater honour.”

PHOTO - TOP: Bob Chaplin, left, receives the Fruiterers Trophy from Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson MP.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Winner of the Pewterers Perpetual Cup was John Hecks. His son, Andrew, right, received the award from Environment Secretary, Owen Paterson.

John Hecks was equally thrilled with his award. The Hecks family have been making cider on their farm on the outskirts of Street since 1896, and can trace their cider-making back to 1840 when a previous John farmed and made cider at Lordleaze Farm, Frome.

Other award-winners in the hugely popular Orchard and Cider section of the show were Les Davies MBE, who was awarded the Coopers Trophy for Craftsmanship in the Cider Industry.

Berry Farm Cider from East Devon, who won the British Champion Organic Cider;

Burrow Hill Cider, from Kingsbury Episcopi, who won the award for the best apple juice; and Angus McDonald, of Orchard Pig Cider, West Bradley in Somerset, who won Best Orchard.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Lady Hazel Byford and Michael Zuckerman, right, Master Cooper, presents Les Davies, centre, with the Coopers Trophy for Craftsmanship in the Cider Industry.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Orchard and cider chairman Anthony Gibson, right, presents McCrindle's Cider with their award for Reserve Special.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: All smiles from champion cider producer Bob Chaplin.

PHOTO - ABOVE: John Perry, right, of Perry's Cider, of Dowlish Wake, receives the Arthur Davies Cider Cup from the show's orchard and cider chairman Anthony Gibson for classes of two bottles of cider and two identical bottles of cider at this year's Royal Bath and West Show.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Representatives of Burrow Hill Cider receive the best apple juice in show and the Vigo Apple Juice Trophy from orchard and cider chairman Anthony Gibson.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Orchard and cider chairman Anthony Gibson presents Best Cider Orchard award to Angus MacDonald.

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