Rozycki, one of 42 chefs out of 454 competitors to win gold at one of the biggest annual culinary competitions in the south, received the highest honour by impressing experts with her entry in the novelty cake class at the event at Brockenhurst College in Brockenhurst, Hampshire.

New for this year, a Best Live Competitor award was presented to The Ritz Hotel’s Connor Godfrey, who won gold best in class in the Tilda Risotto Challenge, gold in the Lamb Main Course and silver best in class in the British Turkey challenge, with best static display going to The Grove’s Ben Crocker, who won gold and best in class in the cold chocolate dessert class.

Also new this year, an award for Best Competing College went to Farnborough Technology College, which had 27 students competing at Wessex, four of whom received a gold: Emily Brown in the patisserie skills, Jessica Calam in the table lay-up, Perry Pheasant in the emulsion and makeover, and Shelley Gubbins in the cupcake decoration class.

Colleges which were new to the competition were also recognised, with Hull winning the inaugural Best New Competing College award, with three of its 20 competing students receiving a gold medal; Joshua Worrell in the omelette class and Philip Dixon in the bakery skills (display), who both also won best in class, and Mathew Downey in the fish filleting.

Stephen Scuffell, Craft Guild vice president and organiser of the competition, said: “There were some amazing sights, smells and tastes at this year’s Wessex Salon, and it was great to see so many students taking part in the competition, helping to ensure that the industry continues to flourish as youngsters look to hospitality as a rewarding career.”

This year’s competition sponsors were AAK, British Turkey, Captains Club Hotel, Caterer & Licensee, CCS, Check Recruitment, Chewton Glen, Churchill, Cloud Hotel, Coastline, Coeliac UK, Collins King, Country Range, Cheeky Cow Cheese, Debono, Dr. Oetker, Essential Cuisine, Fullers, GenWare, Gourmet Classic, Guernsey Herb, Hartnett Holder & Co, Lime Wood Hotel, Macphie, Marlin Marquees, Mars Foodservice, MCS, McCormick, Mozzo, Premier Foods, Pritchitts, Tilda, The Staff Canteen, Village Veg and Wenlock Spring.

For more details, visit www.craftguildofchefs.org or follow @Craft_Guild #WessexSalon.