Shoprite Checkers Boerewors Champion - 19th time lucky

Nkambule is an old hand at the Championship Boerewors battles, having participated in this competition 19 times. This year his persistence finally paid off and he was elated by his victory. "My secret to the best boerewors lies in the special ratio of pork to beef meat I include in my mixture," says Piet who also swears by the effective use of good quality spices to deliver tasty boerewors.

The runner-up and second runner-up also did not leave empty handed. Second place was awarded to this year's only female finalist, Mary Mkhabela from Mashishing in Mpumalanga, who won a R10 000 holiday voucher from All Gold, a Coca Cola cash prize and Simba vouchers. Quinton Rossouw from Kempton Park in Gauteng, took third place and received a R5 000 holiday voucher from All Gold, a Coca Cola cash prize and Simba vouchers.

This year the Championship Boerewors competition took 85 regional and 10 provincial elimination rounds, during which 400 judges from the South African Chef's association had to taste and assess more than 55 000 pieces of raw and cooked boerewors, to eventually find the ten best who would take on the final battle in Sun City.

At the grand finale, an independent judging panel comprising of food experts Martin Kobald, Arnold Tanzer, Carmen Niehaus, Jenny Morris, Peter Veldsman and Lungile Nhlanhla had the task of singling out one winner from this year's selection of finalists'. Entries were initially judged in raw form, followed by a braai-off during which contestants had to prepare their own secret recipe boerewors to the best of their abilities.

Actress Brümilda van Rensburg and actor and comedian, Waldemar Shultz were comperes for the day and entertained the crowds on the beach. They were joined on stage by entertainers such as Sorina ("the Flooze"), Jessica Truter, Gerhard Sten, Willem Botha and Charlize Berg, with special appearances by Nataniël, Kurt Darren, Mandoza and Die Kaapse Affodille.

The other seven finalists who competed for the title and the grand prize were: Aletta Rachman, from St Francis Bay; Wiekus Vorster from Bloemfontein; Chantelle Gouws, from Vanderbijlpark; Koos van Dyk, from Polokwane; Michael Webster, from Klerksdorp; Gielie van Zyl, from Kimberley; and Cathrine Groeners, from Kranshoek in Plettenberg Bay.

Boerewors-lovers across South Africa will not have to wait too long to enjoy the supermarket group's new traditional taste sensation as the 2012 Champion Boerewors will be available in the meat markets of all Shoprite, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores countrywide as from Friday, 12 October.

The 2012 Shoprite Checkers Championship Boerewors will receive the South African Chefs Association's Seal of Approval, ensuring that South Africa's best-loved boerewors brand is the best of the very best!