A FOREST team of barbecue fans has come third in an international barbecue championship in Estonia

The Dean Order of Griller and Smokers (DOGS) cooking team was led by Gavin Wilkinson, chef of the Woodman Inn, Parkend. Locals Nick Browning, Graham Carter, and team captain Andy Williams spent the day stoking the fires, entertaining the crowds and peeling the spuds!

The Estonian National Barbecue Championship (Grillfest) took place in a National Park in the South of Estonia, in a town called Turi.

"The hot smoking category in which DOGS competed included three rounds – pork ribs, a chicken breast and a fantasy round – where judges visited our cooking area to be presented with food, drink and entertainment, based around a central theme," said a spokesman.

This year, 12,000 visitors came to the one-day event which was given extensive coverage on TV and radio.

"While many other competitors arrived at Grillfest with expensive trailers and trucks loaded with many tons of equipment, our team flew to Estonia with a few special ingredients packed into our suitcases, all very British ...check in at Ryanair was something to behold."

The team was supported by singer songwriter Tom Browning from the Forest and armed with Union flags, bunting, and a Kate and Wills party kit they recreated a typical English street party scene with a Royal Wedding theme.

It featured a very English meal of smoked fillet of beef and barbecued Yorkshire pudding served with smokey garlic mash, roasted carrots and rich gravy.

The Wye Valley Brewery provided bottles of award winning Dorothy Goodbody Golden Ale.