Helderberg boerewors enthusiast Jasper Gordon secured a podium finish in the 2024 Shoprite and Checkers Championship Boerewors competition.
The Strand resident, who won the 2011 edition of the competition, returned to the prestigious boerewors showdown this year, competing as one of the top 10 finalists vying for the title honour (“Root for another victory for Strand-based former boerie champ Jasper,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 23 August).
Gordon battled it out against the nine other contenders from across the nation in the grand finale, held at the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch this past Saturday (24 August) and clinched third place.
The regional meat market manager for Checkers, who has been entering the competition since 2009, bagged R30 000 in prize money following a commendable battle for the best boerewors.
“It’s been an incredible experience and an honour to be a finalist,” said Gordon. “I’ve always been inspired to enter; I guess it’s just who I am.
“Almost every weekend I’m braaing at Die Bos, where I stay. I’ve constantly been tweaking my recipe and experimenting with that unique balance of spices. I’m very happy with what I’ve presented at the competition.”
Ruard Briel, a 37-year-old financial manager from Centurion emerged victorious, earning first place with his bang-on boerewors recipe.
He walked away with a grand prize of a brand-new Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 RB AT worth R600 000, R20 000 in cash and the bragging rights of being crowned SA’s boerewors champion.
His winning boerewors will be available at Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from Friday 6 September, just in time for Heritage Day celebrations.
Second place went to Marthinus Verwey from Bloemfontein.
Now in its 32nd year, the competition attracted a record number of over 2 300 entries submitted from all corners of the country. These were judged through various elimination rounds by the South African Chefs’ Association (SACA).
The finale saw the top 10 cook and serve their boerewors to a panel of food experts that included Zanele van Zyl, Carmen Niehaus, James Khoza, Matthew Howcroft, Martin Kobald, and surprise wildcard judge, former Springbok lock Bakkies Botha.
“It’s a great privilege to be part of this competition, because boerewors brings people together,” said Botha.
Championship Boerewors is a favourite for Shoprite and Checkers customers, with 5 811 384 kg sold last year, enough to make boerewors rolls for more than 55 million people.
That’s 8 274 km of Championship Boerewors, enough to cover the distance from Cape Town to Mumbai, India, or to fill the boots of 19 663 Toyota Fortuners.
The 2024 top 10 Championship Boerewors finalists were: Ruard Briel (winner); Marthinus Verwey (second place); Jasper Gordon (third place); Moshasheni Mabotja from Polokwane; Werner Taljaard from Yzerfontein; Werner Gouws from Riviersonderend; Rasheed Hassen from Randfontein; Debbie Nel from Amanzimtoti; Ashook Beharie from Ladysmith; and Elrico Jansen from Kimberley.
