Scone bakers battle it out for championship

"It's the bragging rights really," laughs Joycelyn Carter, president of the Eltham Business Association, when asked about the winners' spoils awaiting the champions of cheese scone baking.

There is a trophy and gift for the winner of each category as well as the overall prize.

Joycelyn says that every year the Great Eltham Scone Night is "better than the previous year".

This Friday will be the fourth annual scone competition, which will see the best of the best compete for the title in one of three sections the four-square cheese scone competition, the junior master scone competition, and the fiercely fought celebrity master scone competition.

This year the invitation-only category, which sees local identities fight it out in a floury battle, has a range of contestants drawn from various sporting groups.

The Eltham Business Association has managed to achieve what rugby fans across the country have begged for it has brought back Buck. For the evening anyway. Buck (Wayne) Shelford will be the guest speaker at Friday's Scone Night, where a gold coin donation buys you admission to the competition and scone supper.

Michael Jago, the owner of Eltham 4 Square and sponsor of the cheese scone competition, says the night is about "putting Eltham on the map" and helping the town to grow.

"It's what we do."

He says it is an entertaining night, helped by the fact people get passionate about the competition.

A top tip for potential competitors is to pay attention to "colour, texture and taste" as, according to Joycelyn, that is what the judges will be looking for.

The Eltham Business Association sponsors the master scone part of the evening, and Joycelyn says it is grateful to the local Women's Institute, the Lions club and other volunteer organisations that give up time to help with the event.

"It's a great night out."

She says they are expecting an even bigger turnout this year.