Rachel Isbister and Jessica Rendall from Sandwick YFC will represent the Highland Region of Young Farmer’ Clubs in the final of the Scotch Beef Country Cooks Competition at next month's Royal Highland Show.

The pair topped the regional elimination of the competition, held last Saturday at Thurso High School, where no less than seventeen two-member teams from across the Highland Region were given one hour to cook dishes using a bag of unknown ingredients, including quality scotch beef mince, sweet potato, long grain rice, puff pastry, apple, pepper, kidney beans and smoked cheese, without the aid of a recipe books.

Judges Helen Campbell and Anne Frew scored the teams based on all aspects of the finished dishes, including hygiene, technical skill and team work. Ms Campbell commented: “It was great to see so many teams of all ages take part and not one was phased by not knowing what ingredients they were going to get. All dishes that were turned-out were all very good and she congratulated them all for taking part."

Rachel and Jessica scored 85.5 points to win their place in the final – although this was the first time an Orkney team had competed in the competition. They will be cooking against the SAYFC East Region on the Thursday of the Royal Highland Show at the QMS stand at 12noon.

In second place were Gemma Duguid and Katie Mackinnon from Bower YFC with 85 points and third was Halkirk YFC’s Kirsty Fraser and Laura Doull with 79.5.