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ASCOT RACECOURSE & 1711 JUNIOR & SENIOR BAKE-OFF COMPETITION 2024

Posted on 13th March 2024 at 11:10

On Monday 11th March local students gathered at Ascot Racecourse for the final of the Ascot & 1711 Ascot Bake Off Competition.

The event brought together 14 teams from schools across Slough, Reading, RBWM and Bracknell Forest who had designed, created, baked and decorated their own Tray Bake. All teams attending the final had already won the heats delivered in school to secure their place in the Final, so they were already winners in their own rights!

The theme this year was Royal Ascot, and the challenge was to create a traybake to celebrate one of the most prestigious occasions in the sporting & social calendar.

Jacqui Greet welcomed students, teachers and parents to the event and congratulated everyone on reaching the finals of this hugely popular challenge, which was now in its third year.

Thank you to the judges, Gemma Amor, Matthew Humphreys & Guest Judge Eric Lanlard, Celebrity Pâtissier, who all brought a wealth of experience, real passion and excitement to the competition.

We'd also like to pass on our thanks to the Q&A panel who joined our judges to engage teachers and parents discussing careers. Ruta Girdauskaite, Nicole Kyle and Nick Smith.

Students set up their exhibition tables ready to showcase their entries before the judges made their way round to meet and spend time with each team. Judges were keen to hear first-hand about each team’s creation and how they had gone about sourcing local produce. They were also very keen to observe and hear how each team had captured their whole journey on a team mood board. All traybakes were tasted by each of the judges as students explained the process they had followed to make their traybake.

The stakes were high as the winning team from each category would not only walk away with the kudos of knowing they had won, but also knowing that their creation would be appearing on the menu of the Summer Mile Family Raceday on Saturday 13th July. This part of the prize was by far the most exciting for all participants.

Following the judging the panel left the room to deliberate over their notes, score sheets and discuss at length who they felt should be awarded winners of the 2024 Bake-Off. While this happened students, teacher and parents engaged in a career talk with Ruta Girdauskaite, Recruiting & Onboarding Manager & Nicole Kyle, Training Co-Ordinator followed by a talk from Gemma Amor and a very interactive Q&A session with each of the speakers along with Eric Lanyard, celebrity judge, and Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs.

Following the presentations and Q&A session it was announcement time, and the buzz and atmosphere in the room was super exciting as Judges took center stage to give feedback on all teams and announce winners and runners up in both categories.