Norwegian oats crowned winner of world porridge championship in Scottish Highlands

A technology consultant from Norway has been named the 32nd winner of the coveted Golden Spurtle trophy after the annual world porridge championship in the Scottish Highlands.

Sven Seljom, from Mandal, was crowned World Porridge Making Champion in Carrbridge on Saturday after impressing the judges with his traditional porridge, crafted from Norwegian Black Oats, sea salt and water he brought from his homeland.

Speaking after being crowned world champion, first-time entrant Sven called the achievement a “great honour”.

“I’m lost for words”, he said. “It has been such great fun to be here – the welcome in the village, the hall arrangements, it’s just been tremendous.

Australian food stylist Caroline Velik made the best speciality porridgeMichael Harley via Supplied

“I heard about the World Porridge Making Championship many years ago on Norwegian radio and thought it sounded really different, and I’ve wanted to enter ever since. I started experimenting with different types of steel cut oats. I really love the texture.

“The oats I used came from an organic farm, and I soaked them for 24 hours before the competition.”

Now in its 32nd year, the Championship celebrates the very best in traditional porridge-making, with contestants from around the world preparing the dish using only three ingredients; water, oatmeal and salt.

This year’s competition attracted 30 participants from 14 countries, including the USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Finland.

Entries were judged on taste, texture and colour by a distinguished panel including Neil Mugg, former pastry chef at The Gleneagles Hotel, KJ Gilmour, award-winning chef, artisan baker and author, and Coinneach Macleod, Scotland’s best-selling cookery writer, also known as The Hebridean Baker.

The event, hosted by Scottish MasterChef finalist Sarah Rankin, entertained a record-breaking audience in Carrbridge Village Hall and surrounding venues.

In addition to the main title, the Best Speciality Dish Award went to Australian food stylist Caroline Velik for her Porridge Jaffles, which featured yoghurt flatbread filled with her mother’s rum bananas recipe.

It was also made with Bundaberg banana toffee rum liqueur, bananas, oatmeal, waffle seeds and Davidson plum sugar.

Highlights of the day included clips from the new documentary “The Golden Spurtle”, guided tastings of local malt whiskies and gin, and fun photo opportunities with Muckle Spurtle, a giant 6-foot wooden spoon.

Porridge chieftain Alan Rankin praised the high standards, calling the entrants “exceptional”.

“Congratulations to Sven on taking home the highly coveted title of World Porridge Making Champion and the Golden Spurtle trophy”, he said.

“The standard this year was exceptional, and it’s wonderful to see the event continuing to go from strength-to-strength. The event relies on spirited competitors, our sponsors and the legion of local residents who volunteer their time each year.”

Alan Meikle, managing director at sponsor Hamlyns of Scotland, said: “Porridge is at the heart of Scotland’s food culture, and Hamlyns is proud to support the Championship and celebrate one of Scotland’s favourite foods. Congratulations to everyone involved in such a special and successful event.”