Sawsen, let me start by saying I love your cake and well done on your award x I’m a ‘serial competitor’ and that’s how I’ve developed my skills to date. It is nerve wracking the first time however it does get easier :-) The actual marking/score is never divulged at any of the shows (not just CI). It’s important to make a design you love else it will never be quite ‘right’ in your eyes, which is the most important thing. You need to balance your mark with ‘crowd appeal’ – people stopping to take time to admire, feedback on social media etc. Last year I entered two in the same category, both golds, 1st and 2nd – the one that was placed second always attracts far more comments! Once you’ve had time to ‘recover’ from show pressure you will find your own way of incorporating the feedback you were given into your next piece and, far from being a ‘sterile’ affair, you’re likely to push the boundaries even further :-) You may wish to consider entering a British Sugarcraft Guild competition – these are usually 1 day events and you can buy a competition handbook (in advance) for just £2 which explains what they are looking for and how their scoring works, and judges feedback is available too. Hope that helps x
Mandy x -- www.facebook.com/MandysSugarcraft
