Tickler tickles Wales fancy

Milk Link's The Cheese Company, the UK's largest cheese manufacturer, has triumphed at the Royal Welsh Show being awarded the title of 'Supreme Champion' for its Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar and 'Best Regional Cheese' for its Red Leicester.

Milk Link's Taw Valley Creamery located in Devon proved a resounding hit with the judges. As well as being named Winner of the Aeron Valley Cheese Masters Perpetual Trophy 'Supreme Champion', its Tickler extra mature cheddar won Gold. The Creamery also won Gold for its Mild Coloured Cheddar. In the Red Leicester class Taw Valley won the Marks & Spencer's Perpetual Trophy for 'Best Regional Cheese' as well as Gold and Bronze for its Red Leicester. Double Gloucester also did well and was awarded Silver and Bronze.

The Cheese Company's other Creameries enjoyed success at the show: The Lockerbie Creamery continued its winning streak and was awarded Gold for its salted butter and Second place for its unsalted butter. The Creamery also won Gold for its Mature Coloured Cheddar, Silver awards for its Mature White Cheddar, Mild White Cheddar and Vegetarian Extra Mature Cheddar and Bronze for its Mature White and Mild White cheddar.

Reece's Creamery in Cheshire also triumphed, winning Gold for its Coloured Cheshire, Silver for its White Cheshire and Wensleydale and Bronze for its Caerphilly cheese. The Tuxford and Tebbutt Creamery in Melton Mowbray bought home Silver place for its Stilton.

Mark Robertson, Milk Link's Operations Director said, "We couldn't do any of this without our dedicated workforce. To be awarded the title of 'Supreme Champion' for Tickler as well as the 'Best Regional Cheese'; for our Red Leicester is a testament to everyone's hard work. We are delighted."