Race for Cullen skink championship crowns heats up.

CHALLENGERS for the Cullen Skink World Championships are putting the final touches to what they hope will be the winning recipe ahead of what is shaping up to be a bumper contest.

Sunday, March 8 at the Cullen Bay Hotel will see battle joined to claim the honours in the traditional Cullen skink and skink with a twist categories, currently held by Lynne Watson and Ian Watson respectively.

There is a step in a new direction this year for the event, which his being held in March as opposed to it previous November slot.

A spokesman for Cullen Voluntary Tourist Initiative, who run the competition, said: "We have been overwhelmed by entries and have been oversubscribed for both the traditional and twist competitions.

"Moving to this time of year has been a very positive step and we're every much looking forward to it."

The five strong judging panel who will have the difficult task of picking the winners has also been unveiled. Running their taste buds over the entries will be: Patricia Seligman, Vice Lord Lieutenant Banffshire; Jimmy Buchan, Amity Fish Company Ltd/BBC Trawlerman series; Louie Paterson, Cluny Fish, Buckie; Peter Cook; Opportunity North East Head of food and drink; Alistair Fowlie, Moray College.

The contestants in the traditional section will be first out of the blocks at 11am and have just 45 minutes to produce two bowls of their soup. Those competing in the twist section will have the ladles at the ready from 2pm, also having 45 minutes to produce two bowls.

The winners will be formally unveiled at 3.30pm.

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