An aspiring chef from Llandovery spent the day preparing food for Henley Royal Regatta visitors after winning a national competition.

Catrin Manning, 16, won Springboard FutureChef in March, beating thousands of other budding chefs between 12 and 16 from across the UK.

Catrin’s first prize included a day working with chefs from FutureChef sponsors Sodexo, who provide hospitality for 500 people a day at the world-famous rowing event between 4 July and 8 July.

While Catrin worked in the kitchen with Sodexo executive chef Malcolm Emery plating up meals , her mum Aimee Newman and grandmother Jeanne Newman-Davies enjoyed hospitality at Fawley Meadows on the banks of the River Thames, including a champagne reception, three-course lunch and afternoon tea.

Sodexo has been the catering partner at the Temple Island and Fawley Meadows hospitality areas of Henley Royal Regatta since 2013.

Catrin Manning said: “It was an amazing experience. I met up with executive chef Malcolm Emery – he is a great chef – and spent the morning prepping everything for the day and getting everything ready for service.

“In the afternoon, I worked with five or six others to plate up two courses for between 400 and 500 people. I’ve never seen so many plates, but I enjoyed it. It was really good. We had to do a salmon starter and then a strawberry mousse dessert.

“It gave me a great insight into what commercial catering is all about. It was incredible to see the volume of food these people could produce in such a short space of time. It was great to see them working together as a team, and the system they had going.”

David Mulcahy, Sodexo food innovation director and FutureChef head judge, said: “Inspiration for young people to come into the hospitality industry is so important, that’s why Sodexo sponsors Springboard FutureChef. I’m glad Catrin enjoyed her day with the Sodexo team at Henley Royal Regatta.”