THE pinnacle of Island culinary talent was on show at Wednesday’s cake-off challenge, launching the week-long Cakes 4 Cancer fundraiser for Wessex Cancer Trust Isle of Wight’s wellbeing centre.

Roger Sargent, of The Taverners, Godshill, created the winning cake, a flamboyant confection of lime, coconut, mango and passionfruit. Runners-up were a Genoese sponge, with raspberry and lemon, by Isle of Wight Pearl’s Philippe Fanchon, and a chocolate orange celebration cake by Lesley Trueman, of CakeSmith.

The challenge was hosted by Robert Thompson, at Thompson’s, Newport. Robert’s entry was the spectacular Garden Isle, an Isle of Wight-shaped lemon drizzle cake, embellished with handcrafted sugar flowers.

The judges were High Sheriff Gioia Minghella-Giddens, Level 42’s Mark King, his wife, Ria, food blogger Matt Chatfield, County Press Editor Alan Marriott and Paul Topping, of Isle of Wight Radio. Announcing the winners, Mrs Minghella-Giddens said judging the beautiful cakes had been difficult.

The cakes ranged from royal wedding-themed cakes, by Ellie Beaman of Miss Dotty’s Cakes and freelance baker Charlotte Rice, who bakes for The Piano bar and café, Freshwater Bay, to a date, apple and ginger cake by PO41’s Louise Collins.

An unusual loaf cake, made with Isle of Wight tomatoes, was made by Klaus Kuhnke, of Cantina Ventnor and Stripped Ventnor.

The cakes will be served tomorrow (Saturday), from 11am to 3pm, at the Wight Royal Tea Party at Stripped, the new restaurant at 2 High Street, Ventnor. There will be an appearance by Belle, of Enchanted Isle, children’s activities and a raffle with prizes worth more than £500.

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A host of events is planned for Cakes 4 Cancer, including a coffee and cake morning at Freshwater Methodist Church from 10am to 2pm today (Friday).