SCHOOLBOY John Elliott’s recipe proved a winner in the final of the province-wide Young Cook of the Year Competition.

John, a 14-year-old student at the Erne School in Enniskillen, who prepared pancakes Italian-style, accompanied by pasta yoghurt salad, came top in the special education category.

The 15 finalists from secondary schools, further education colleges and special schools across the Province, including John, from Tamlaght, and a schoolgirl, Clara Keenan, from St. Mary’s High School, Belleek, competed in the final held in the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

Clare, who took part in the Form 4 upwards category, made plaited chicken with mushroom sauce and crunchy sprouted salad.

According to a spokesman for the event, “competition was fierce in this challenge for a total prize fund of £1,000”.

John who practised his dishes at home and school, had only been given short notice that he had reached the final in Jordanstown.

The student was the toast of his school last week, with a congratulatory poster in the dining hall, and he collected a cup and prize money for himself and a perpetual cup for Erne School.