World Butchers’ Challenge name new Head Judge for Paris 2025
The World Butchers’ Challenge (WBC) has today announced the new Head Judge for the next 2025 event, held in Paris, France as Great Britain’s, David Lishman - previous three time captain of the revered Team GB for WBC events across a ten-year period.
A highly involved member of the WBC, Lishman was part of a team - involving Great Britain’s Trade Board - who spearheaded the drive to bring an earlier version of the WBC event to Yorkshire, England in 2014, where he also captained Team GB.
WBC 2025 Head Judge, David Lishman
Known fondly as “the Olympics of Butchery'' - the ninth WBC will be held at Paris Arena Sud 6, part of the impressive Paris Expo Exhibition Centre. The venue is currently gearing up to host the world’s best handballers and weightlifters at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Alongside business partner and daughter, Emma Lishman, David owns Lishman’s Butchers & Charcutiers - a traditional butchery business in the Yorkshire Dales of England - which won the coveted title of Best Butchers Shop of the Year for Great Britain in 2017.
On receiving the call about his nomination and then appointment as Head Judge, David says, “I was hugely honoured. I have watched with great admiration as to how this event has grown to be the global contest it is now. I have big shoes to fill.”
With regard to passing any advice onto team’s already preparing for the 2025 WBC, David notes:
“Naturally we want to see traditional crafts and skills from the teams but with modern products and cuts that would entice the public to buy and try in a retail environment.
“Be clean, efficient and avoid waste. Use every part available. It’s the butcher's duty to make the most of the carcass - which was once a living animal - and set an example to the rest of the meat industry that the product in front of them gets the respect it rightly deserves.”
The Head Judge oversees a panel of judges, made up by the nomination of one judge from each competing nation. This position takes the ultimate responsibility for ensuring a smooth and fair judging process is conducted and can be relied upon.
Lishman will supersede former Head Judge and New Zealander, Todd Heller who has been a crucial part of the growth of the WBC from a grassroots trans-tasman event to the largest butchery event on earth.
World Butchers’ Challenge Chairman, Rod Slater says, “Todd has played a pivotal role in shaping the WBC since its inception in 2011, ensuring that the competition is revered by our global community as one of the best butchery events in the world. We want to thank Todd for his expertise, professionalism and commitment over the last 12-years.
“In the same vein, we welcome David Lishman into the role of Head Judge. We are confident that as someone who has already been a key part of the WBC community for many years, David will bring that same level of expertise and commitment but with a new flair as the competition continues to grow and evolve globally.”
Competitor entries are now open with teams able to register online here for Paris, 2025. New teams can register their interest here.
More information on competition details, competing teams and tickets will be released in 2024. Stay updated with the latest news via the WBC website.
The 2025 World Butchers’ Challenge is proudly sponsored by Friedr. Dick and Anago.
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Imagery:
For additional imagery & video content of Head Judge, David Lishman; Paris Arena Sud 6 and the WBC click here.
About the World Butchers’ Challenge:
The World Butchers Challenge - officially hosted by Confédération Française de la Boucherie (CFBCT) - will run from 30-31 March with winners of the revered Friedr. Dick Golden Knife Trophy announced at a black-tie Gala dinner on 1 April.
The 2025 competition will grow from 13 teams which competed in Sacramento last year, to 18 teams. Each national team of six will be given three hours and thirty minutes to transform a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb and five chickens into a themed display of value-added cuts.
The WBC expects to host around 3,000 spectators each day with the World Champion Butcher Apprentice and Young Butcher competition taking place on Sunday 30 March and the headline World Butchers’ Challenge event running on Monday 31 March.
The World Champion Butcher Apprentice and Young Butcher competitions are two separate categories modelled on the same concept as the World Butchers’ Challenge. They are individual events which recognise and reward upcoming talent in the industry.
About Lishman’s Butchers & Charcutiers:
Lishman’s Butchers & Charcutiers is a traditional butchery business in the Yorkshire Dales of England. They buy live animals and whole carcasses, butcher them into cuts and further process into small goods, cure hams and charcuterie. They have a retail shop and also a wholesale business for salamis, hams and other cured meats supplying hospitality and retail businesses across the UK.
For more information, please contact:
Vicky Shepherd
PR Consultant, World Butchers’ Challenge, New Zealand
vicky@wbccouncil.com
+61 21 143 6900