APPLE PIE CONTEST

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 2

APPLE PIE CONTEST

Places For City

Section

Mrs E. E. Burgess, of Cranford street, won first place yesterday in the Christchurch district elimination contest for the national apple pie competition sponsored by the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board. Second place went to Mrs R. East, of Garreg road, Bryndwr; third place to Mrs J. Graham, of Woodend; and fourth to Mrs J. Fiecken, Main road, Redcliffs. These four women are thus eligible to bake apple pies for the provincial contest which will take place in the Caledonian Hall, Christchurch, on June 18 and 19. Mrs Burgess said last evening that although she was not the excitable type she was astounded and delighted to hear she was the winner. Her husband, two daughters and small son were very thrilled with her she said. When she arose yesterday she had a bad headache and thought twice about making her pie, but decided she must do so because she had formally put in her entry. “It came in very handy for dinner anyway,” she said. Mrs Burgess’s pie was an oval shape with the only decoration some pastry flower petals in the middle. She did not go in for elaborate design in her pie making she said.

Asked how she felt about baking her next pie in public, she said she she would probably be very nervous. She did not like a gallery during her cooking. Only 150 pies were brought in yesterday instead of the 200 expected. Mrs G. K. Hayman, secretary of the Christchurch committee said. Bad weather probably accounted for the defection. Eleven male cooks entered the contest, Mrs Hayman said. But the men bringing pies in yesterday were not admitting ownership as those she questioned said they were bringing them in for their wives. At the end of the day the organisers were able to give 40 apple pies to the Salvation Army for use in their institutions. Mrs Hayman said.

In spite of the drenching rain yesterday a good crowd went to inspect the display of pies.