The first World Jersey Cheese Award took place in Jersey on 23rd May 2008 and the competition was a resounding success attracting over 100 entries from ten different countries.

The unique cheese competition was open only to cheeses made using 100% Jersey Milk, making it the first international cheese competition for cheeses made from a single breed, the Jersey Cow.

Support for the inaugural competition was far reaching and entries came from USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, UK, Jersey, France, Holland, Rwanda and Australia.

The level of competition was extremely high.  The team of 16 judges, led by renowned UK cheese expert Chris Ashby and including two Michelin starred chefs as well as representatives from organizations such as Slow Food and Genuine Jersey, deliberated over the 17 classes of entries.  Ten cheeses were awarded Gold Medal status and were then judged against each other to find the Gold Riband award of "World's Best Jersey Cheese'.  The winner of this award went to Irene and Jan Dirk Van de Voort of Holland for their delicious cheese "Olde Remeker."

Chris Ashby said she was very pleased to head up the judging panel and added:  "The overall standard was extremely good.  There were some superb cheeses and the supreme champion is a true supreme, it's a cheese that makes you go weak at the knees!  It's a very worthy winner and I think it would win in any cheese competition!"

The competition was created under the auspices of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau to celebrate the occasion of their 18th International Conference being held in the island of Jersey, the home of the Jersey cow.  The organisation of the event was led by the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society.  Such was the success of this inaugural international cheese competition that it will now become an annual event.  It's set to be an major event on the Jersey calendar attracting Jersey mild cheese makers from around the world.

For further information, interviews and pictures contact Deborah Midgley, Event Coordinator.

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