Staff at a Dalry butcher’s shop were celebrating this week after their haggis was judged winner of the “Gi’es A Haggis” competition.

The competition to find Ayrshire’s best haggis was run in conjunction with the Robert Burns World Federation Kilmarnock 1st Edition Festival, and attracted entries from all over Ayrshire.

R. Stalker and Son of Dalry was judged as best entry in the competition.

The organiser of the competition, Lorrie Headley of RBWF, said: “The judging was carried out by a panel of five judges following a blind tasting by members of the public, so Stalker’s Haggis was extensively sampled before being judged the winner.”

Business owner Ronie Stalker, who is also a North Ayrshire councillor, said: “We’re delighted to be the very first winners of this new prestigious competition.” 

Members of the Dalry Burns Club, which is the longest consecutively running Burns Club in the world, turned out in force to see Ronnie presented with the award by Martin Cassidy, president of the Haggis Association.

Chairman of the club, Bob Strahorn said: “We’re blessed to have a supply of world class haggis on our doorstep, and we’re absolutely delighted to see the award coming to our town.”