My jaw dropped. Then my hands flew to my mouth in surprise. I was stunned. Almost immediately I broke out into a childish grin, clapping my hands in glee. I quickly turned around to search out my mother. She was there with me. I quickly located her. Now, almost jumping up and down like a five year old, I thrust out my arm, pointed proudly and declared, “I won a place….I came third….my little fruit buns came third!”
I could not believe it. One of my entries into the Queensland Royal Show cooking competition won a place!
Images from Animal Boulevard @ The Ekka 2009
It all began a few months back when I entered into five categories.
:: Date Loaf
:: Chocolate Loaf
:: Scones
:: Small Cakes
:: Fruit Buns
Immediately, I started collating recipes to commence my trial runs straight away. Admittedly, I was not sure what the judges were looking for (as the instructions were extremely limited), but nonetheless, I figured I would just give it my best shot. As this was my first ever baking competition, however, I was actually a little nervous.
Fortuitously, I started my practise early. Very fortunate indeed because all of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, the time had come to bake and submit my entries!
Images from the Cooking Display @ The Ekka 2009 :: Top left image: Julia’s Entry
On entry day, I carefully took my baked treats to the RNA showgrounds. There were some serious contenders dropping off tray upon tray of entries. I handed over my five little items, and headed to work. Judging was happening that day. I did not expect to hear anything.
The following week I went to The Ekka with my mother. We had not been in about 15 years, but decided this year was a good time to go. Go explore the exhibition and displays – and, of course, the cooking entries!
I had resigned myself to the fact that it was a long shot to win a place in the Queensland Royal Show cooking competition. For me, just entering my very first baking competition, and the whole experience, was rewarding enough. But I wanted to see all the winning entries, not expecting mine to be among them.
I was slowly wandering around all the winning entries on display. My eyes naturally darting to the categories I had entered. I was calmly taking notes in my head, observing some uncanny similarities between the winning entries. Detail that was not at all included in the original instruction. And it was then, in the display, when I noticed I had won.
Images from the Royal Championship Dog Show @ The Ekka 2009
After the excitement had died down (I was pretty excited!), I noticed how irregular my fruit buns were compared with the other winning entries. Soon after, I was speaking with one of the stewards. I pointed out my ‘non-standard’ fruit buns. Based on appearance, she seemed surprised they won a place, but offered “the judges must have been very impressed with the texture and taste”. With a coy smile, she then said, “next year, make sure you change the size and you could be looking at 1st place”.
We will see.
So until (perhaps!??) next year, I leave you with a sprinkling of photographs from the Queensland Royal Show 2009.
Images from the Craft and Quilting Displays @ The Ekka 2009
August 22, 2009 at 12:42 am
A big congrats for your win, Julia. How exciting for you. -Tien 🙂
August 22, 2009 at 12:44 am
congratulations I m happy for you 🙂
August 22, 2009 at 12:55 am
WOW CONGRATULATION JULIA!
It’s your first competition and you won! I wish you luck for the next year. I am pretty sure you can get the first place! So, to get there … keep practicing!
August 22, 2009 at 1:19 am
Congratulations! That is so great! I’m really happy for you!
Cheers,
Rosa
August 22, 2009 at 2:43 am
yupppiiiiiee ^^ congrats to you :-)!! that’s so cool ^^!
I’m very happy for you ^^ have a great weekend! XOXO
August 22, 2009 at 3:05 am
J, I have something for you at my blog. take a look. http://gratinee.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/spreading-the-love/
August 22, 2009 at 3:42 am
awesome job! congratulations!
August 22, 2009 at 4:38 am
Congratulations, sweetie!!
You prepared the most beautiful baked goods and always style them so pretty. Well deserved!
August 22, 2009 at 4:54 am
That’s such a neat story, Julia. It’s exciting and wonderful that you won third place. Your “little fruit buns” must have been very impressive. I’ve never entered any baked goods in any sort of contest but it sure would be fun to give it a whirl someday.
Jane
August 22, 2009 at 5:43 am
F E L I C I T A T I O N S !!
Love all these images above, especially the one with the ribbon, bien sur ! 😉
Wow, just imagine with a little tweaking, how unbelievable those fruit buns of yours are going to be. Wow again! And congrats again too! Hope you celebrated big time !
August 22, 2009 at 10:24 am
Congratulations 🙂
August 22, 2009 at 10:31 am
Well done Julia! I’m so excited just to read about the win – you really deserve it! Hope you enter again, we’ll be seeing a swag of ribbons next time I’m sure 🙂
August 22, 2009 at 11:14 am
You are such a talented baker! Congrats, Julia!
August 22, 2009 at 11:25 am
Oh my gosh, congratulations!! That’s just awesome and very much deserved, I could tell those fruit buns were winners just from the photos!
August 22, 2009 at 12:10 pm
holy cow!!!! OH MY GOD< I am SO happy for you, Julia! HIP HIP HOORAH! The judges aren't wrong…I'm sure they were freaking fabulous!
August 22, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Oh my, look at all of those wonderful pictures. It looks like a great time.
Congrats on your win! How exciting 🙂
August 22, 2009 at 5:43 pm
What a cool surprise! Congratulations. I hope you enter many great things next year.
August 22, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Congratulations Julia-it’s very well deserved! 😀
August 23, 2009 at 6:56 am
What a great surprise!! Congrats!!!
August 23, 2009 at 7:23 am
Nice work on the placing! I’ve always wanted to enter a show too, maybe next year!
August 23, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Congratulations and well done.
August 24, 2009 at 10:34 am
Congratulations sweet Sister on your win. I was hoping you’d get up as I know how wonderful your baking is. I’m one of the lucky ones who gets to sample it on a regular basis! Lucky me!!! Congrats too on your beautifully amazing blog. Although I tell you to your face how amazing I think you are, I thought I should make a comment here for a change. Well done Sis, so proud of you xxx 🙂
August 24, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Congratulations! I love your photo montages from the Ekka.
August 24, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Congratulations!! So exciting!
August 25, 2009 at 2:51 am
I knew you where going to win something and WOW you fulfilled your wish. Congrats on the win you fully deserve it. Cheers from Audax
August 25, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Congratulations!! Well done! I’m so happy for you. A well deserved win. Beautiful montage.
August 27, 2009 at 8:22 am
yay!!
August 29, 2009 at 4:36 am
Congratulations! So well deserved.
August 30, 2009 at 10:23 am
Woohoooo!! Congrats! So happy for you! It’s top prizes for you next year I’m sure!