The Te Awamutu trio pose with fellow champion team, the Black Gloves. Photo: Retail Meat NZ
Te Awamutu butchers have again featured at the national awards.
The Pak’n Save Te Awamutu Stickmen during the master butcher teams challenge – Callum August (from left), Brad Gillespie and Brendon Alexander. Photo: Retail Meat NZ
Brendon Alexander, Callum August, Cody Burbery, Brad Gillespie and Adrianna Te Aonui represented Te Awamutu on the New Zealand stage on the North Shore last week.
Alexander, August and Gillespie – the stickmen from Te Awamutu Pak’n Save – were first equal in a tough fought in Master Butcher Teams Challenge.
The stickmen team also took out the Beef and Lamb New Zealand ‘Best Beef Product’ with their Brisket Jalapeño and Cheddar Truffles.
The teams challenge brought together seasoned professionals to assess their speed, technique and teamwork.
“There was no qualifying for the teams’ master butcher competition, you just had to register a team of three qualified butchers – the competition was tough,” Gillespie said.
“The skill set in each team was extremely high.”
The four competing teams had two hours to break down a full lamb and a beef hindquarter, displaying their craft and creativity.
In the end, the stickmen couldn’t be separated from the Australian Black Gloves crew.
“The Australia team was made up of three butchers from their national butchery squad who came third in the world butchers challenge in France,” Gillespie said.
“To come first alongside them is massive achievement.
“It was Brendon and Callum’s first national competition so they still can’t believe what they achieved.”
Teams’ challenge head judge Riki Kerekere said overall, it was the highest standard he’d seen delivered.
“Normally in these competitions, you might see one team, maybe two that stand out – every team stood out,” Kerekere said.
“It was great having an Aussie team competing, we know what the Trans-Tasman rivalry can do to lift performance, and we saw that today.”
New World Mt. Maunganui representative Alex Pellow pipped Burbery in the butcher apprentice finals. The Te Awamutu rep was runner-up.
Burbery had beaten the champion in the regionals earlier this year.
The pair have been competing and learning for the past three years, creating a great rivalry.
“It was an exciting journey to get where I got to, through hard work and passion,” Burbery said. “Having a great support network from Pak’n Save meant I could put my best foot forward and compete at a high level.
“It was great to see Pak’n Save TA compete several categories and get some “chocolates” at the end, and give the Aussies a run for their money in the team’s event”
Te Aonui was in the young butcher finals alongside five others from across the country.
The contestants echoed the great support they had from their Te Awamutu employers.
The Te Awamutu trio pose with fellow champion team, the Black Gloves. Photo: Retail Meat NZ
