Staff from Maidstone-based DSH Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors had a vital role in the annual World Custard Pie Championships, when they were called in to oversee fair play among competitors at the slapstick charity event.

Half a dozen volunteers from DSH bravely donned the judges’ T-shirts and put themselves in the firing line to count the number of hits and misses from pies thrown between teams in fancy dress at the Kent Showground, Detling, for the 41st world championships. The fiercely fought contest saw 22 squads throw some 2,300 plates of gooey mess at each other.

A team of radio presenters from kmfm were the overall champions, narrowly beating a team from Nottingham called We Don’t Like Asparagus.

Mike Startup, a Partner at DSH, said: “Custard pie throwing has some pretty complex rules and as judges it’s our job to count the number of hits, the highest score being for a direct hit with a pie in the face. It all happens so fast; it’s certainly a challenge to keep both eyes on the action, while writing down the scores.

“As a judge you have to be pretty nimble on your feet to avoid getting splatted. Sadly, one member of staff, Peter Julier, just wasn’t quick enough and received a direct hit! He made a good recovery, though.

“It’s a great day out, organised by a committee of 6 under the banner of The Rotary Club of Maidstone, with teams coming from all over the country. When it comes to the pie throwing all the teams get very excited and noisy. They’re not using real custard in the pies – that would cause ricochet problems – but a suitably messy mixture containing self-raising flour.”

The winners’ trophies and certificates were sponsored by DSH. Money raised from the event is being donated to Demelza Hospice Care for Children; Ellenor Shining Light’s Children’s Hospice at Home, and the Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance.