The Pie League 2018

PLC Grand Final - Pateley Bridge v Cleckheaton

Adjudicators:  AB, PL, JK

Timing: 09:45 and 12:15

Prices: 1.40 and 1.30

After the impressive semi final performances from both teams, the Adjudicators had high hopes of witnessing a truly memorable Grand Final, and travelled to Pateley in high spirits, undismayed by the grey and drizzly conditions, and undeterred by the thick fog shrouding some parts of the dales.

The Bridge opened with a fresh, but only ever so slightly warm Pie. The crust was firm, without being hard, …

Cleckheaton v Ilkley 9 November 2018

Adjudicators:  AB, PL, JK

Timing: 10:30 and 12:15

Prices: 1.30 and 1.30

The Adjudicators drove into Cleckheaton on a bright and sunny November morning, to find car parks full, roads blocked off, and the streets lined with stalls. Never had a PLC Semi-Final been so enthusiastically prepared for.

And the Cleckheaton Pie did full justice to the elaborate preparations. It was served at an almost perfect temperature……warm, but not hot, with the loosely formed …

Pateley Bridge v Birkenshaw 27 October 2018

Adjudicators:  AB, PL, JK

Timing: 09:40 and 12:05

Prices: 1.40 and 1.20

The first semi-finał of the 2018 PL Championship,  required an early start from the Adjudicators, with the first pickup at 8:00am. By 9:30am, all three Adjudicators and a young observer known as Bullboy, had parked up at The Bridge, having crossed three mighty Yorkshire Rivers, and admired three Yorkshire Dales. The Bridge opened with a hot pie, and the jelly was clearly still in liquid form, as this …

Harden v Brighouse

Adjudicators: JK, AB

Timing: 10: 20 and 12:15

Prices: 1.25 and 1.10

Harden opened the game with a still ever-so-slightly warm pie, which was hungrily devoured by the Adjudicators with some gusto…..enough gusto to attract the attention of a passing lady, who first asked if the Adjudicators were enjoying their pies……and then, once she caught a whiff of the freshly cooked pie……opened her nostrils wide, breathed in, smiled, and started to rub …

Skipton v Otley 13 October 2018

Adjudicators:  PL, JK

Timing: 10:35 and 12:10

Prices: 1.28 and 1.30

Only two Adjudicators braved the wet and windy conditions, the third preferring to watch some artificial horse riding in Bingley. On the journey to Skipton, the river Aire had to be crossed three times, a fact that most travellers probably fail to notice.

The conditions exposed the weaknesses of the Skipton Pie, which was only ever-so-slightly warm. The crust might have been slightly overdone and dry in …

Harden v Cleckheaton 6 October 2018

Adjudicators:  AB, PL, JK

Timing: 09:45 and 11:40

Prices: 1.25 and 1.30

First, a little piece of nostalgia……. Two Adjudicators had to pop into Bradford on their way to the match, and passing the Talbot Hotel, remembered the stone Talbot Dog, which once stood guard over the entrance. Internet investigations confirmed that there had been two dogs, one over each entrance…….but they were stolen in 1975, after the hotel had closed down in 1974. Even …

Pateley Bridge v Baildon 29 September 2018

Adjudicators:  PL, JK

Timing: 10:40 and 12:45

Prices: 1.40 and 1.25

Only two Adjudicators were available for this match…..as the third was busy painting Toby’s stable. However, he was able to issue food procurement instructions to the active Adjudicators, which the Adjudicators were able to carry out successfully. The journey to The Bridge, on a beautiful sunny morning, pleased the Adjudicators, who spotted a healthy young birch boletus growing by the …

Cullingworth v Birkenshaw 5 September 2018

Adjudicators:  PL, JK

Timing: 10:45and 12:20

Prices: 1.20 and 1.20

The Match Day proved to be a grey, breezy and damp one. But the Adjudicators do not shirk their responsibilities, and ignoring the inclement conditions, were hopeful of tasting some quality pies to make their onerous duties more bearable.

Unfortunately, Cullingworth opened with what was a fine-looking pie, but soon proved to have a very dry and hard crust, which gave both Adjudicators hiccups. The jelly, …

Ilkley v Pateley Bridge 1 September 2018

Adjudicators: AB, PL, JK

Timing: 10:50 and 12:25

Prices: 1.30 and 1.40

After the traditional Pie League Summer Break, all three Adjudicators were keen to get back to their duties, (eating pies), and were very much expecting an exciting game, between two of the more highly regarded teams in the competition. And they were not disappointed.

Ilkley opened with a gently warm, very well seasoned and extremely tasty pie, but one which was slightly let down by the overdone, and …

Brighouse v Cullingworth 16 June 2018

Adjudicators: AB, JK, (PL present for the second half, but not adjudicating)

Timing: 08:50 and 11:00

Prices: 1.40 and 1.30

This was the battle for the PLS Wooden Spoon, but as both teams had been involved in close games with the undefeated leaders Cleckheaton, the Adjudicators were hoping for a game of some quality. They were left sorely disappointed.

Brighouse opened with a cold pie, despite the early start. One Adjudicator noted that both pies came from the overdone end …

2018 PL - Baildon v Skipton 9 June 2018

Adjudicators: AB, PL, (accompanied by JK, present but not adjudicating)

Timing: 10:45 and 12:20

Prices: 1.25 and 1.28

Even before the game started, there was plenty to keep the eager crowd buzzing with excitement. Adjudicator JK, who thus far had a 100% adjudication record, failed a late pre-match fitness check. Suffering from some horrible throat disease, which caused immense pain and difficulty when swallowing, JK judged himself unable to perform his Adjudicator duties …

Birkenshaw v Harden 2 June 2018

Adjudicators: JK, AB

Timing: 10:15 and 11:40

Prices: 1.20 and 1.25

This was an important game for both teams, a win for Harden would have ensured their place in the play-offs…….a defeat for Birkenshaw would have ended their season…..

This week, the Adjudicators were accompanied by a young toddler, already hoping to be an Adjudicaor, and affectionately named by his loving parents as……Bullboy. The Adjudicators were delayed in their …

Skipton v Ilkley

Adjudicators: JK, PL

Timing: 12:00 and 12:30

Prices: 1.28 and 1.30

Due to unforeseen events, which resulted in the late arrival of the Adjudicators, and one Adjudicator’s requirement for a visit to the gents on arrival at Skipton, it was decided to take a pre-match drink at The Castle, and delay kick-off until noon.

As the Adjudicators sipped and appreciated their pints, in their usual discerning manner, appreciative of the warm sunshine, they also noticed that the …

Cleckheaton v Birkenshaw

Adjudicators: JK, AB, IW (part qualified)

Timing: 10:20 and 11:00

Prices: 1.30 and 1.20

Two unbeaten teams came together in this long awaited clash, which proved to be worth the wait.

Cleckheaton opened cleverly….playing the “next batch ready in 10 minutes” card, and forcing the Adjudicators to mosey down to the Obadiah Brooke, for a pre-match drink. And though the 10am chimes had barely finished…..the establishment, and its outdoor seating area, …

Pateley Bridge v Skipton

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 11:00 and 12:40

Prices: 1.30 and 1.20

A beautiful spring morning greeted this long awaited game between the two northernmost teams of the PLN……and the Adjudicators made an early start, fully aware of the journey ahead of them…….100 miles, covering three famous Yorkshire Dales.

The Bridge opened with an unexpectedly dark pie……but though the crust was overdone, the meat content was good, substantial …