“The standard of marmalade making in the Mid Wales borders is amazing,” claimed a top international judge

Kington held its third annual marmalade completion on Saturday, attracting 58 tasty entries.

The competition organisers were delighted with the number and quality of entries received at the weekend event.

There were slightly more entries in the 100 per cent Seville orange category than the mixed citrus class and one of the world’s top international marmalade judges Jane Maggs had the difficult job of picking winners.

During the competition held at The Barn in the Oxford Arms, Kington, Jane said: “The standard of marmalade making in the borders is amazing, it stands up very well to any major competition that I judge.

“The standard is incredibly high, it was so hard finding a winner especially in the mixed citrus category – they were just wonderful.

“So anyone that got 18 points or above should be very proud of themselves because they were very close to winning. It was a very close run thing.

“They are just lovely marmalades and I hope we keep doing the competition.”

One tip she had for competitors in the future was to make sure they used new lids on their jars and she said she would make some available at cost price at Kington Country Market on a Friday and maybe at the Grapevine shop.

The winner of the 100 per cent Seville marmalade category was Monica Eckley from Lyonshall and the winner of the mixed citrus marmalade was Sally Showell of Eardisley.

The winner of the under14’s category was four year-old William Rigby of Kingston Upton Thames.

Visitors were able to enjoy a variety of mouth-watering and unusual marmalade flavours thanks to Jane who had brought some examples for tasting from the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards.

The exotic flavours included Taiwan Tankan Orange Marmalade with Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, Yuzu and Lime Marmalade with homemade Feijoa Liqueur and Yuzu with passion fruit and bergamot orange.

Jane had brought about 30 marmalades mainly from Japan, Taiwan and even one from the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

If one of the marmalades tickled your tastebuds they could take them home for a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Pam Peek from Kington Chamber of Trade, who organised the competition, thanked Jane for judging the competition and said she did not know what they would do without her tasting all the entries. But she said she knows Jane enjoys it.

She said there were 58 great entries and she thanked everyone for their support.

She thanked The Oxford Arms for accommodating the competition, Gareth Clarke for helping to organise the event, Wayne Summers for helping with posters and printing work and Karen and Andy Compton of the Mid Wales Journal for giving press coverage to the event.

Pam said all proceeds from the event will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, a worthwhile charity, following the event.