THE manager of a local fast food store has again been crowned her firm's quickest pizza-maker in Scotland.
Cat Mein beat off competition from eight other Domino's employees at the Scottish heat of the world contest in Livingston.
The reigning champion retained her title by creating three pizzas in one minute 30 seconds, cutting three seconds off her own record set last year.
She will now head to Wales next month for the UK heat, where she will face the top pizza-makers from across the country.
Cat, who runs the Falkirk branch of Domino's Pizza, said: "I am so excited to be crowned Scottish champion. I've been practising really hard – making the perfect pizza is not as easy as it sounds.
''You have to learn to stretch the dough into the perfect crust and base, which takes a lot of practice.
''At the competition you are judged on speed, stretching, saucing, cheesing and toppings.''
She added: "I can't wait to head to Wales for the final. For the last four years, the UK winner has also been the fastest in Europe. I'd love to carry that accolade into a fifth year. Until then I'll be practising night and day."
Simon Judge, franchisee consultant and a member of the judging panel, said: "It was a nail-biting final, but Cat won it hands down.
"The skill and stamina required to slap and stretch the dough and perfectly sauce, cheese and top three perfect pizzas in less than two minutes is not easy, but she kept her cool and is well deserving of the title.
"The UK final is going to be thrilling – Cat will certainly take some beating."
So what is the secret behind Cat's astonishing success?
"It's just lots and lots of practice," she said. ''In Domino's I was making 100 pizzas an hour, for four hours and for three years, so you just become faster."
And Cat (26), who has worked for the pizza chain for five years, revealed that she was not the only speedy pizza maker in the Falkirk franchise.
She added: ''I really love working in Falkirk – all the staff are really nice. There was also someone else from the shop who competed in the final and came in fourth – so if you want a fast pizza, Falkirk is the place to go!"
m.henderson@falkirkherald.co.uk
Source: http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk