CIDERMAKERS from as far afield as the United States and Finland were represented at a competition championing Herefordshire's most famous drink.

The International Cider and Perry Competition at the Cider Museum, off Whitecross Road in Hereford, attracted a total of 224 entries from 51 different cidermakers.

Herefordshire producers caught the eyes of the four judges winning eight of the 12 classes, while Henney's Cider Co from Bishop's Frome won the overall champion prize.

Among the other winners were Much Marcle-based Westons, who topped the medium cider category, while Shaun Canavan, who is also based in Much Marcle, won the sweet cider prize.

Abbeydore-based Gwatkin Cider and Perry came out top in the dry perry awards with Oliver's Cider and Perry from Ocle Pychard winning the medium perry prize.

Woodredding Cider and Perry from Yatton, near Ross-on-Wye, won the single variety cider prize.

Gwatkin was again successful, this time being named best presented packaged cider or perry.

Finally, Bodenham-based Butford Cider and Perry was named best in-bottle fermented perry.

Other prizes went to Finland producer Jyrki which was given best culinary cider - dry.

The Angry Orchard from Boston, United States won culinary cider - medium/sweet.

Llewellyns Orchard in Lusk, near Dublin won best in-bottle fermented cider.

Meanwhile, there were 170 entrants in the Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials held in Putley Village Hall.

The competition is unusual in being judged by fellow entrants instead of judges.

Pete Brown, author of World’s Best Cider, announced the winners.

Jyrki Hirvonen from Finland won the hotly contested draught dry cider class, with more county entries from Bartestree Cider Company, while Albert Rixen and Eric Freeman won the draught medium and draught sweet cider respectively.

Overall champion cidermaker went to Gryfter Cyder from Hereford.

Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry Company was the winner of the draught dry perry class, with Roger Pinnell winning draught medium/sweet perry.

First prize in the bottle fermented/condition cider was taken by Putley-based Once Upon a Tree.

James McCrindle's bottle fermented/conditioned perry took best product in show.