Sponsored by
Don't scrimp on the barbie!
A BUTCHER'S dream of becoming a world barbecue champ was today hanging in the balance after his sponsor pulled out at the eleventh hour.
But Andy Annat refuses to give up and still hopes to be jetting out to Lynchburg, Tennessee, on Sunday to compete against the best in the World Barbecue Championships.
He believes his crack barbecuing team have got a great chance of winning the $30,000 first prize and possible sponsorship deals worth million of dollars.
Andy is almost half way to raising the 10,000 he needs to pay for his flights and accommodation after a leading opera singer said he would stump up 4,000 of his own cash.
Now the Harrogate meat man, who owns Andy Annat's Gourmet Stores on Cold Bath Road, is hoping to raise another 6,000 to send him Stateside.
The 38-year-old, said: "We were all ready to go and our sponsor backed out on us about a week ago.
"He made a promise to us that his cooking equipment would be up to American safety standards, but when it wasn't he pulled out.
"I even put a sign outside my shop asking if anyone could help out. I had nothing in the pipeline but then an angel just came out of the sky."
That was James Laing, a Yorkshire-based opera singer, who has sung all over the world and just popped into the shop.
Andy said: "He'd read the sign and said he would give us 4,000. It was incredible. Now we are asking the public to help out with the rest."
The team want to fly out early to allow them time to settle in before the competition at the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, on October 27.
Andy said: "It is the eleventh hour and I'm getting nervous."
Andy and his wife Sharon, who have a four-year-old daughter Millie and live in Staveley, have run the gourmet butcher's shop for six years.
They expanded their business to cater for other people's barbecues and even worked on the Queen's 80th birthday party.
Andy's barbecues are a step above the burnt sausages of average British barbecue fare.
His specialties included brisket roasted for up to 20 hours and whole shoulders of pork.
He became British Barbecue Champion in 2006.
Andy said: "It is all cooked on charcoal and wood, no fire-lighters or lighter fuel. The American style is low and slow.
"We have got a good, experienced team and we were looking forward to beating the Yanks at their own game and a place on the podium."
l Call Andy on 07702 478409 or send an email to info@blazingbarbecues.com.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Politics: Mark Hookham's Westminster blog - 5.33pm
- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
- Worker dies on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Video: Restaurant reopens on Leeds Harry Ramsden’s site after £500,000 refit
- Chocolat author will tempt guests at Leeds Big Bookend Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
