A Llanidloes butcher faces a nervous wait until August until he discovers if he has qualified for the final of the first Butchery WorldSkills UK National Competition.
Daniel Allen-Raftery, 31, of Randall Parker Foods, Dolwen, Llanidloes, was runner up in in the competition’s Wales heat, which was won by Matthew Edwards, 23, of Vaughan's Family Butchers, Penyffordd, near Chester.
The heat was on familiar territory for Daniel as it was hosted by Randall Parker Foods, but it was the first time he had entered a butchery contest.
“There were a couple of things that I forgot, but otherwise everything went well and I’m happy with second place considering the standard of butchers I was up against,” he said.
“It’s now going to be long wait before we hear if we’ve qualified for the final.”
The national finalists will not be announced until August, following the Northern Ireland heat at Southern Regional College, Newry on June 18 and the England heat at Leeds City College on July 9.
The six top scoring butchers from the combined heats will qualify for the final at The Skills Show, to be held at the NEC Birmingham from November 19 to 21.
The Skills Show is the nation’s largest skills and careers event and helps to shape the future of the next generation.
Champion Welsh Young Butcher Peter Rushforth, 19, of Swans Farm Shop, Mold was third and Dafydd Jenkings, 21, of Ken Davies Butchers, Crymych, who was also making his competition debut, was fourth.
The judges were meat industry consultant Viv Harvey and Cambrian Training Company’s head of curriculum for food manufacture Chris Jones.
Dale Williams, general manager of Randall Parker Foods’ Dolwen plant, was impressed by the butchery skills displayed. “It’s a breath of fresh air to see talented butchers so keen and dedicated to progress within this industry,” he said.
Award-winning, Welshpool-based training provider Cambrian Training Company has been appointed to organise the butchery competition on behalf of WorldSkills UK. The heats are sponsored by The National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, Institute of Meat and PBEX.
WorldSkills UK National Skills Competitions are designed to enhance apprenticeship and training programmes and improve and drive skills in the industry. Butchery is one of more than 60 skills to feature in this year’s competitions.
Caption: Daniel Allen-Raftery (centre) with judges Viv Harvey (right) and Chris Jones
