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The Little Champion CHALLENGE!!!!

After producing the John Hunt Little Champion for over 90 years, debate has sparked within the Alma Works, as to how many presses an hour can a trained user do on our manual machine? We advertise the machine as doing 300 - 400 presses an hour which gives somewhere between 5 & 7 presses a minute! Which is fantastic! but some here feel up to a 1000 per hour is possible???

We need your help to prove who is the number 1 Little Champion operator in the world! and just how many presses can it do?

The winner of the challenge will receive a unique trophy of historical significance. Enter your operator now!

Unfortunately Covid happened after the competition started. We had some amazing videos that proved yet again that the HUNT Little Champion is an amazing machine. The videos show the importance of good organisation. Picking up and replacing the containers in the same place on the baking sheet makes a very significant difference to the over all production.

Originally we hoped to present the Cup to the winner at the Foodex 2021 exhibition at the NEC Birmingham. Due to the ongoing circumstances this exhibition was cancelled until April 2023. Therefore we took the decision to award the cup to a sensationally efficient operator - Matt Brown from the Pork Shop Poulton le Fylde Lancashire with an amazing 33 presses per minute that equates to 1980 pieces per hour ! Not sure what condition he would be in after that effort !

We are leaving the rules in position as we would like to resurrect the competition at some stage in the future. So now is an opportunity to practice !

Most likely we will concentrate on what we term 'open' products ie. fruit or custard tarts, flans etc.That is to say finished products that are produced in one operation.

Please have a look at the video of our own Bob Chadwick (aka Elvis Presley) doing his bit for posterity. I am sure this will make you smile.

The Rules : 

Rotary Category

Goal :

Press as many products as possible in 1 minute.

Rules : 

  • Products must be pressed only on a Little Champion Machine.

  • One operator only.

  • Video footage must be supplied as proof.

  • Products must be completely pressed with crimp visible and excess trimmed.

  • Only entries before closing date (TBA) will be eligible to win trophy, though league table will remain (Coming Soon!).

  • Only products pressed within 1 minute will be counted.

3 Piece Category

Goal :

Press as many bases as possible in 1 minute.

Rules : 

  • Products must be pressed only on a Little Champion Machine.

  • One operator only.

  • Video footage must be supplied as proof.

  • Products must be completely pressed into the containers of choice, excess can remain.

  • Only entries before closing date (TBA) will be eligible to win trophy, though league table will remain (Coming Soon!).

  • Only products pressed within 1 minute will be counted.

Registration

To register, please take the time to fill out the information below.

The LC Challenge 2020 Top 3 - 3 Piece Category

Terms:

Upload your videos at our contact page, www.johnhuntbolton.co.uk/contactus or our Facebook page @Johnhuntbolton, alternatively email them too danny@johnhuntbolton.co.uk. If you have selected Whatsapp a message will be sent with the contact number to send them too. If uploading to social media use hashtag #LITTLECHAMPCHALLENGE. In entering you agree for us to present your video on our website in the challenge league table. The closing date for applications will be announced via the site page and social media with the winner and some participants being mentioned on all our communication outlets.

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The Pork Shop

Operator : Matt Brown              Container : Foil 

Air Release : No                         Size : 08 x 1 3/4"

Heat : Yes                                    Pastry : Shortcrust 

Facebook: @ThePorkShopPoulton

Website : www.porkshop.co.uk

Position

Presses Per Min

Presses Per Hour

1

33

1980

Terms:

Upload your videos at our contact page, www.johnhuntbolton.co.uk/contactus or our Facebook page @Johnhuntbolton, alternatively email them too danny@johnhuntbolton.co.uk. If you have selected Whatsapp a message will be sent with the contact number to send them too. If uploading to social media use hashtag #LITTLECHAMPCHALLENGE. In entering you agree for us to present your video on our website in the challenge league table. The closing date for applications will be announced via the site page and social media with the winner and some participants being mentioned on all our communication outlets.

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Piper Street Food Co. (Aus)

Operator : Damien Sandercock   Container : Tin

Air Release : No                            Size : 17 x 1/2" (Estimate)

Heat : Yes                                       Pastry : Shortcrust 

Facebook: @piperstfoodco

Website : www.piperstfoodco.com

Position

Presses Per Min

Presses Per Hour

2

30

1800

Terms:

Upload your videos at our contact page, www.johnhuntbolton.co.uk/contactus or our Facebook page @Johnhuntbolton, alternatively email them too danny@johnhuntbolton.co.uk. If you have selected Whatsapp a message will be sent with the contact number to send them too. If uploading to social media use hashtag #LITTLECHAMPCHALLENGE. In entering you agree for us to present your video on our website in the challenge league table. The closing date for applications will be announced via the site page and social media with the winner and some participants being mentioned on all our communication outlets.

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The Pie Shop Dalton

Operator : Our Joe                    Container : Tin 

Air Release : Yes                         Size : MP 4.5" Shallow

Heat : Yes                                    Pastry : Shortcrust 

Facebook: @ThePieShopDalton

Position

Presses Per Min

Presses Per Hour

3

23

1380

The LC Challenge 2020 Top 3 - Rotary Category

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John Hunt (Bolton) Ltd

Operator : Elvis (BC)Presley         Container : Tin

Air Release : Yes                            Size : 3" Patty

Heat : Yes                                       Pastry : Shortcrust (pre-packed)

Position

Presses Per Min

Presses Per Hour

1

15

900

Little Champ Challenge 2020

LC Rotary Challenge

LC Rotary Challenge
Search video...
LC Rotary Challenge
04:18
Play Video

LC Rotary Challenge

The Pork Shop Poulton LC Challenge Entry
01:15
Play Video

The Pork Shop Poulton LC Challenge Entry

The Pie Shop Dalton Entry LC Challenge 2020 / 23 P/Min
01:00
Play Video

The Pie Shop Dalton Entry LC Challenge 2020 / 23 P/Min

John Hunt Bench Mark Entry Bob Chadwick LC Challenge 2020 / 16 P/Min
02:09
Play Video

John Hunt Bench Mark Entry Bob Chadwick LC Challenge 2020 / 16 P/Min

Little Champion Challenge - Coronavirus update from our MD:

"The idea behind the Little Champion Challenge, was a bit of fun, not to be taken too seriously - but still a clear and important demonstration of how to improve the productivity of this unique machine. Technique and organisation are key.

Due to current circumstances we are suspending the Challenge until the pandemic has ended. The aim at this stage is to announce the winner at the Foodex 2021 Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham at the new recently announced date - 12-14 April 2021."

 

Cancelled due to covid

Please do enjoy reliving the moment a legend returned to compete in the

#LITTLECHAMPCHALLENGE below - with the volume on of course! 

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