Cork Sugarcraft Competition 2015
Schedule F.A.Q.
(Frequently Asked Questions)
1.
Q: Wedding Cake: Can the cake exceed 3 tiers?
A: Wedding cakes must be 2 or 3 tiers only.
2.
Q: If I had a three-tier cake can I use double-height dummies or are they
classed as two-tier?
A: Double height of the same size to represent a very deep cake is one tier,
if iced as one unit.
3.
Q: Is there a limit to the height of Sugar-paste Cakes? A number of people
want to make 2-tiered and 3-tiered cakes.
A: No limit to height - but it must be presented as a single unit, no pillars
separators etc.
4.
Q: Wedding Cake Open: If you have a double-barrel cake as in 2 cakes, one
on top of the other, is that 1-tier or can it be 2-tier? Or do they have to be
visibly separated to be separate tiers?
A: If you have 2 x same-size cakes stacked on top of each other and iced as
one unit, it is a one-tier cake. For a two tier cake they have to be separate
when stacked - i.e. two different sizes is obviously two cakes, or else on
separate stands or pillars.
5.
Q: Do flowers in the Wedding Class have to be wired?
A: Flowers do not need to be wired - but wiring is another skill, so you get
more points for that.
6.
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Sugarpaste Classes. Can the cake be double-height?
Yes, but iced as a single unit, no pillars or separators.
OR can I do a tiered cake?
Yes but no pillars or separators between dummies.
7.
Q: Class 1 Royal Icing beginners .I want to directly do a run-out on the top
of my cake but as they are normally done off cakes, I want to make sure I will
not be disqualified if I do it
A: Yes you can do this directly onto the cake – no off pieces are allowed in
this class.
8.
Q: As we had to state the size of board for wedding cake, can I turn up with
a smaller size? Or do you need to know in advance?
A: Yes you can go smaller but not bigger as the exhibit space is allocated
and carefully measured out in advance of the show.
9.
Q: Novelty carved..."No internal supports". Would that prevent me using
spaghetti to hold an ear or nose in place?
A: Yes it means NO supports, including spaghetti or pastillage sticks.
10. Q:
Beginners Sugar-paste. Is quilling allowed for the decoration on the cake?
A: Yes, quilling can be used in Beginners Sugar-paste. Remember, the more
skills you use the more marks you get – e.g. Piping, flowers, quilling, sugarpaste etc.
11. Q:
Could you please confirm that for the Royal Iced competitions the cake
board can be covered in fondant?
A: No. It is Royal Iced cake, so the board must be flooded.
12. Q:
Is there a height limit for the piece? I presume anything less than 2 feet
will be acceptable?
A: Which class are you referring to in height limit? If it is novelty entry then
there is NO height limit, There IS a height limit in miniatures. It must fit into a
6inch/15cm cube.
13. Q:
I hope to enter the Novelty Carved section, but the design I have in mind
will be impossible to carve from a single block of cake. Would it be acceptable
to have a carved base from one block of cake & a carved piece on top from
another block?
A: Yes, you can carve one block then sit another carved block on top. Yes,
you can stick it together with Royal Icing.
14. Q:
As internal supports are not allowed, is it ok to fix these separate pieces in
place using the likes of Royal Icing?
A: Yes, you can stick with Royal Icing.
15. Q:
As long as 50% or more of the exhibit is cake, I presume it is okay to
have sugar-paste models on top?
A: Yes. They cannot have internal supports but can be fixed in place with
royal icing or on a plaque that is secured with royal icing.
NOTE: Exhibit must be stable and all items secured, as judges will lift and turn
cakes. The judges are also entitled to cut cakes to check.
16. Q:
Can non-edible items, such as a piece of florist wire covered in sugarpaste, be used in the decoration?
A: Wires covered in paste can be used with wired flowers, not generally
elsewhere. Please contact the Competition Secretary with relevant class if
unsure.
17. Q:
Novice Sugar-paste: Can edible internal supports be used?
A: Food Grade plastic Dowels are allowed in cakes to stack a second tier.
Edible internal supports may be used in figures EXCEPT in Novelty classes.
18. Q:
Can RKT be used?
A: Yes
19. Q:
Novelty Novice: Can edible internal supports be used?
A: Edible supports cannot be used in novelty cakes. It states No Internal
Supports - and edible ones are included in this.
20. Q:
Floral Novice: Can we use a display stand? Would this be allowed?
A: Yes, an appropriate stand is allowed, a foam ball, polystyrene head or a
material covered board
21. Q:
Floral Novice. Can you explain a “display or arrangement” of flowers
please?
A: A display or arrangement of flowers is explained in the schedule. Do not
wire the flowers together like a bouquet.
22. Q:
A figurine on a cake … can the dowel in the character go all the way
through the character and through the cake?
A: No, the figure can be stuck down with Royal Icing, or fixed on a plaque
which is stuck down.
23. Q.
Why is there no class for fruit cakes?
A: BSG Judges no longer judge undecorated cakes at any show.
24. Q:
Why is there no cup cake class?
A: Exhibition space is limited. Each year we vary the classes. The cup cakes
needed a lot of space per entry. This year, by popular request, we have
added Class 18. We expect the exhibits to be large, like the wedding cakes.
25. Q:
Class 11 Beginners Floral: Flower Girls Basket - Can I use Floral Foam
(Oasis etc) in the basket to hold the flower stems? I have seen ‘Staysoft’
mentioned in books for the same purpose, what is it?
A: Oasis is fine covered with sugarpaste, or not, as it is not on a cake. In
either case the material used to support the flowers should not really be seen.
The flowers should be sufficiently full so the ‘mechanics’ are not visible.
Staysoft is used more and more in the UK. It is a plasticine type of material
generally available from florist supply stores.
26. Q:
Class 11: Can the board be covered in fabric or Sugarpaste?
A: Yes, the schedule just states a covered board.
27. Q:
Class 11: Must the basket be fixed to the board or can it just sit on top?
A: Either, as the schedule does not say it has to be fixed.
28.
29.
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Q: Confectioners Glaze: What is the feeling regarding confectioners glaze?
Are there some that are not approved by the judges? (Asked by a competitor
who makes shiny handbags etc.)
A: Confectioners glaze should not be used in a marzipan class – and that is
usually stated in a schedule. Unless the schedule says otherwise it can be
used but marks will be deducted if it is not well used ie ripples in the glaze or
unevenly applied.