The Pie League 2019

2019 PL Challenge Cup Final - Skipton v Otley

Saturday, Nov, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 10:25 and 12:05

Prices: 1.32 and 1.50

Cup Final Day started cloudy, and as the Adjudicators made their way up the Aire Valley, it became increasingly murky and drizzly…….though as they neared the outskirts of the self-styled Skipton South, the drizzle ceased, and the gloom seemed to lift slightly.

The Skipton pies were not of an even standard. All were on the cool side, but this Adjudicator was presented with one from which …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Semi Finals - Masham v Skipton

Saturday, Nov, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 12:25 and 14:05

Prices: 1.40 and 1.32

Kick-0ff was delayed, as the Senior Adjudicator insisted on watching England lose their RU World Cup Final match against South Africa. And this delay may have cost Masham dearly. By the time the Adjudicators arrived, only four pies were left, and as the Adjudicators snapped up three of them, they caused much consternation amongst the other customers, with one gentleman immediately claiming the last …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Semi Finals - Tadcaster v Otley

Saturday, Oct, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 11:40 and 13:10

Prices: 1.20 and 1.50

The Adjudicators were not deterred by the adverse weather conditions, and showed an admirable resolution in dealing with the incessant rain, and the many flooded and/or closed roads.

However…….the delays they experienced may have had some impact on the game. By the time they reached Tadcaster………only three pies remained……and they were no longer warm. The …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round Quater Finals - Otley v Bedale

Saturday, Oct, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB

Timing: 10:20 and 12:00

Prices: 1.50 and 1.50

The Adjudicators were preceded into Otley by Sesilas The Bear, who drove for three or four miles at an even 30 mph, regardless of the speed limit. In Otley itself, the Adjudicators were surprised by a late Pie change…….but pleasantly so, as it came still very warm, with a liquid jelly moistening the flaky, tasty, pastry, and the lightly seasoned, well textured meat content.

Half-time drinks …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round Quater Finals - Tadcaster v Ripon

Saturday, Oct, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL. Ruby (part-qualified)

Timing: 11:25 and 13:00

Prices: 1.20 and 1.40

The Adjudicators were met in Tadcaster by a Part 1 candidate from the East Riding Of Yorkshire, who was accompanied by his already part-qualified furry companion, herself attempting to pass her Part 2, and reach the coveted Fully Qualified and Accredited Adjudicator status.

The Adjudicators and Candidate had their first set-back, when it became clear that the …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Quater Finals - Skipton v Pateley Bridge

Saturday, Sep, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, PL

Timing: 10:20 and 12:00

Prices: 1.32 and 1.40

The acute shortage of fully qualified Pie League Adjudicators was once again highlighted, when a still convalescing post-inguinal right groin hernia operation Adjudicator was forced to overcome the continuing discomfort, to both drive and adjudicate because the elderly Adjudicator was unable to perform his duties on two consecutive weekends.

We would encourage ALL Pie Eaters to take the trouble to undergo …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round Quater Finals - Masham v Birkenshaw

Saturday, Sep, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB

Timing: 10:15 and 11:55

Prices: 1.30 and 1.25

After the extended summer break, the acute shortage of fully qualified Pie League Adjudicators was once again highlighted, when a still convalescing post-inguinal right groin hernia operation Adjudicator was forced to overcome the continuing discomfort, to both drive and adjudicate because one perfectly healthy Adjudicator preferred to give his adult daughter a lift into Leeds……

We would …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Tadcaster v Wetherby

Saturday, May, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 11:45 and 13:20

Prices: 1.15 and 1.40

This long delayed and long awaited final tie of Round 1, was graced with the presence of two aspiring young candidates, fresh-faced and enthusiastic, eager to pass their Part 1 PL Adjudication Exams……a necessary first step, on the long journey towards eventually achieving the coveted Fully Qualified & PL Accredited Adjudicator Status.

PL Regulations prevent us from disclosing the …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Birkenshaw v Cleckheaton

Saturday, Apr, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB, PL

Timing: 11:00 and 12:10

Prices: 1.20 and 1.40

The Adjudicators were looking forward to this clash between the two best teams in the 2018 PLS, and the dry, warm, Spring sunshine provided perfect conditions for a quality PLCC Round 1 local derby tie.

With their home advantage, Birkenshaw were out to avenge last season’s defeat at Cleckheaton, and started strongly, cleverly rounding up local supporters into a queue, to keep the Adjudicators …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Bedale v Richmond

Saturday, Mar, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, AB

Timing: 10:50 and 12:20

Prices: 1.50 and 1.03

The Adjudicators found Bedale bathed in warm sunshine, and with two available sources of pies. The Adjudicators opted for the first one they had spotted, but decided to take one of each back for assessment by the technicians of Grub Village Laboratories.

The pies were pleasantly warm, with a crispy but not too hard crust. The meat content was well seasoned, and though there was little sign of jelly, was …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Skipton v Steeton

Saturday, Mar, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, PL, AB

Timing: 10:40 and 12:00

Prices: 1.20 and 1.25

The Adjudicators were looking forward to seeing the much-praised Steeton Pie in PL action for the first time ever, and it was perhaps partly due to this excitement, that on a sunny spring morning, in perfect driving conditions, the driving Adjudicator may have been slightly over the speed limit, when he spotted the Video Van parked in the lay-by on the stretch of dual carriageway between Steeton and …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Knaresborough v Ripon

Saturday, Mar, 2019

Adjudicators: JK, PL, IW (part-qualified)

Timing: 10:40 and 11:50

Prices: 1.00 and 1.40

The game was contested in very difficult conditions, with the driving rain hardly letting up, from start to finish. In between huddling in semi-sheltered spots, to scoff their pies, the Adjudicators faced challenging driving conditions, as they crossed from Dale to Dale, along roads submerged under standing water.

But it also saw the first outing of the season from the part-qualified …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Otley v Harden

Saturday, Mar, 2019

Adjudicators:  AB, JK, PL

Timing: 09:45 and 11:15

Prices: 1.30 and 1.40

This cup tie required an early start, and adherence to a rigorous schedule, to ensure that Harden was reached before the pies were sold out. The Adjudicators agreed that they needed to be in Harden between 11:00 and 11:10, and planned their schedule accordingly.

As the Adjudicators drove into Otley, they were greeted with an overwhelming gloomy darkness, and a wind driven torrential downpour. …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Northallerton v Masham

Sunday, Mar, 2019

Adjudicators: AB, JK

Timing: 11:30 and 12:30

Prices: 1.50 and 1.30

As the Adjudicators drove into Northallerton, they were pleased to see that every pub on the High Street was already open, and Northallerton’s Finest were already being delivered by taxi to these establishments, even though it was only just after 11am.

The High Street was lined with market stalls, stretching for miles, and pedestrians struggled to make progress on the pavements, which were full of …

2019 PL Challenge Cup Round 1 - Pateley Bridge v Ilkley

Saturday, Feb, 2019

Adjudicators:  PL, JK

Timing: 10:45 and 12:00

Prices: 1.40 and 1.30

Fittingly, the 2018 PLN Champions, and Grand Final winners, Pateley Bridge opened this seasons PL Challenge Cup competition, entertaining the 2018 PLN Runners Up, Ilkley, in what promised to be an exciting and competitive game……..on a strangely warm and sunny February day.

Unfortunately, the recent spell of warm weather appeared to have also brought the bears out from their hibernation, and …