Anyone entered a cake show competition?

[TickledOnion]

I'm thinking of entering the cake competition at the cake and bake show in Manchester but the high standard of previous winners is putting me off. They are all highly detailed and almost works of art.
Has anyone entered one of these competitions despite being nowhere near professional quality?
I make cakes for family and friends and have recently started getting paid for them. I don't want to look stupid but I think I'd enjoy the challenge.

I did one years ago. Mine was crap compared the all the others who appeared to be professionals with every bit of kit going. The other competitors were rude about my lovely cake too.

I didn't win not even a well done for attempting it certificate because I hand painted mine with brushes and they all dip dyed and blew multi-coloured flowers or something equally as flamboyant. I also struggled with the temperature in the display tent. It was boiling and my icing started to melt before the judges even arrived on site let alone got round to judging. I have no idea what they used in their mixture but no one elses melted like mine did, it was the most beautiful mess by the end.

Just have a go, use a Ghost name if you want to so no one can google your name and trace it back to you I'm sure you will be fine and your cake will look lovely but some of them really are genuine works of art rather than decorated cakes.

Oh that's a shame Reinette. I think this one is purely decorative and it's indoors. I don't even know if the cake has to be edible.