The winner of National Brown Bread Baking Competition, sponsored by Aldi and in association with the NPA (National Ploughing Championships) and the ICA (Irish Countrywomans Association), is Betty Williams from Tipperary South.
“I’m absolutely delighted” said Betty. “My family have always thought my brown bread was the very best and now it’s confirmed! Thanks to Aldi, the NPA and the ICA for making this dream come true.”
Two days of semi-finals culminated in a tense Final today in The Aldi Marquee, in the presence of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and Anna May McHugh, the Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships, and broadcast live on TV3’s Late Lunch Live.
The winner will take home a prize package of €2,000 worth of Aldi vouchers, and of course, the enviable reputation of baking Ireland’s very best brown bread.
From 28 quarter-finalists, early heats whittled it down to just 8 semi-finalists who battled it out over two days in the Aldi Marquee for one of four places in today’s live final.
The judging panel was made up of Laura Harper, Buying Director for Aldi Ireland, Eileen Brennan of the NPA, a previous winner from 1973, and Liz Wall, President of the ICA.
The Aldi Marquee hosted over 250,000 visitors over the three days of the National Ploughing Championships. The enormous marquee, clad in a living wall of salad greens, showcased a wide range of Irish suppliers, and featured entertainment by D’Unbelieveable’s Jon Kenny, Seo Linn and Sharon Shannon, as well as competitions, sampling and giveaways.