Ten O' clock Cookie Bakery Cafe of Masterton took home $10 000 worth of prizes after winning the BIANZ Bakery of the Year Competition on Saturday. They were also awarded Gold Medals for Best Pastry Category and Best Cake Category and took out a host of other silver and bronze medals.

The popular Peoples Choice Award, decided by public txt and online votes, went to The Naked Baker of Christchurch while Oslers Bakery Wairoa and Copenhagen Bakery of Christchurch came second and third overall respectively. Vic's Bakery, also of Christchurch, took the Gold Medal for the Best Bread Category.

The Awards were given out at the BIANZ Annual Awards Dinner in Wellington, sponsored by NZ Bakels and attended by over 150 keen bakers and industry suppliers. The Dinner was part of the annual BIANZ conference at which the Weston Milling Trainee of the Year Competition also took place. Sarah Harrap won this competition, with Shinobu Sadamitsu in second palce and Jason Hay in third place.

To view and order photos of the Awards Dinner please visit

http://webgallery.timeexposure.com/preview.php?cpid=B00297-948&albumid=10666

For all the competition results read on.

The LA Judge Award is an annual baking industry event that offers a prestigious baking industry award. Australian and New Zealand Baking Associations have the opportunity to nominate a competitor. These young bakers compete for the honour of winning the LA Judge Award. Each competitor is evaluated on their practical baking skills, technical knowledge and communication abilities during the three days of rigorous competition.

The "Young Baker of the Year" is an award for the best newly qualified bread baker in New Zealand presented by the NZ Association of Bakers.

The winner of the award is presented with a cup and a research grant up to the value of $10,000 for research such as overseas travel to look at new technology, ingredients, process or trends in products.