The L A Judge Award is recognised as Australasia's most prestigious baking industry award. Each State, and New Zealand has the opportunity to nominate a representative competitor. In an annual competition, these young bakers battle for the honour of winning the L A Judge Award. Each competitor is evaluated on their practical baking skills, technical knowledge and communication abilities during these days of rigorous competition. This year is the 43rd L A Judge Award.

The winner of the 2010 L A Judge Award was Ashley Toth of Bakers Delight, East Burwood, representing Victoria. This is the first win for Victoria since 2003. The award was presented to Ashley at the event dinner with over 120 industry guests. The dinner provides a great opportunity to celebrate the young competitors and to provide them with an appreciation of the wider industry including flour millers, ingredient and equipment suppliers, and bakers. For the attendees it also provides a great networking opportunity.

Fellow competitors in the 2010 L A Judge Award included:                                               Justin Berdar, Moxon's Bakery, Armidale, representing NSW                                       Felicity Moyle, Bakers Delight, Belmont, representing Western Australia                         Colin Tanner, Source Food and Drink, Salisbury North, representing South Australia           Ben Weston, Ferny Way Bakery, Ferny Hills, Queensland

All competitors worked extremely hard to prepare for the competition and this showed in their performance. The young baking apprentices visited flour mills, bakeries and ingredient suppliers to learn more about their trade. The effort and resources they put in, often at their own personal cost, is a great expression of their dedication and passion for the baking industry. All the competitors should be extremely proud of their effort and performance.

This year there was no entry from New Zealand or Tasmania, we hope to see them back in the competition next year.

The event sponsors are to be congratulated and thanked for backing this event. Through their contributions they are supporting the development of young leaders to secure the future of the baking industry.

2010 L A Judge Award

Competition

May 24-26

Presentation May 26

The L A Judge Award recognises the best young baking apprentice in Australasia. Each State, and the New Zealand Baking Association, has the opportunity to nominate a competitor. These young bakers’ skills are evaluated on in areas of practical baking, technical knowledge and communication abilities during the three days of the competition.

The annual skill event is held at BRI Australia’s in-house facilities. This excellent facility is fitted with industrial bakery equipment and has hosted all of the L A Judge competitions.  The presentation ceremony and award dinner is on the evening of Wednesday 26th of May.  Over one hundred and seventy industry guests from around Australia and New Zealand attend this annual baking industry event, which celebrates the young bakers who have competed in this year’s award.