Last updated: 4 Feb 06

In 1999, Trish entered the Novelty Cake competition at the NEC. She was a little disappointed over coming fourth; even though her cake received a Silver Award, as did the winner's cake. This only made her more determined. For 2000, Trish entered the newly introduced and more demanding Master Class competition. In her own words, "to prove to myself that I can do it."

For the Master Class, Trish had to enter cakes in 3 categories. She entered a cake in the Two Tier Wedding Cake class, the Novelty Cake class (the book) and the Sculpted Cake class (snowman and tree). All the cakes had to be linked by a common theme. As you can see from the photographs, Trish's theme was "Snowmen". All the cakes had to be totally edible. For example, she was not allowed to use plastic dowelling inside a cake for support.

When Trish arrived at the NEC in Birmingham on the Saturday morning; she noticed the classes on the cards she had to place in front of her cakes were wrong. She managed to find an official and had them changed to the correct classes. Unfortunately it wasn't the cards that were actually wrong; Trish had been given J Dapp's cards and she had received Trish's. There were no names on the cards to ensure the judges could not be accused of bias; but there were codes to help the officials identify each entrant. On the day there were only 3 entrants in the Master Class. There was a 4th entrant, but 2 of her cakes were too badly damaged in transit.

On Sunday morning, Trish called the organisers to see how she had done. The news was bad. She was told she had come third. One cake was awarded bronze, another merit and the 3rd nothing. She was very disappointed and very upset with herself. Most of the morning was spent trying to understand where she had gone wrong.

On Sunday afternoon, we arrived with time to spare before the prize giving ceremony. Enough time to discover the full extent of the organisers' mistake. Trish walked into the hall to find that each of her cakes had been awarded silver and silver overall; but they had been attributed to J Dapp. Trish immediately informed the organisers and the situation was corrected in time for the prize giving. Though Trish was now acknowledged as the winner of the Master Class; some of the pleasure had been taken away. Later on she met Mrs Dapp; who was feeling bitter and upset. In the morning, Mrs Dapp had been told she had won; news she had passed on to her family and friends. In the afternoon, she discovered she had actually come 3rd and her cakes had been judged in the wrong categories. We sincerely hope this experience hasn't deterred Mrs Dapp from trying again.

Despite how the event unfolded; her family and friends are all proud of Trish's achievement - Master Class winner!!!