Secondary school students had a cracking good time in the Whanganui UCOL kitchen on Friday while competing in the annual omelette competition.

Twelve students from Whanganui City College, Whanganui High School, Whanganui Girls' College, Te Kura o Kokohuia and UCOL U-Skills competed.

They had 20 minutes to prepare, cook and serve two identical cheese omelettes using two or three eggs and at least one type of cheese as well as a choice of fillings.

The omelettes were judged by UCOL chef lecturer Damian Peeti, cookery diploma student Katisha Miller and Stellar chef Phil Healy.

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Dishes and chefs were judged on originality, organisation, cleanliness and presentation.

First place went to Whanganui High School student Olivia Caird for her sweet omelette containing raspberries, ricotta cheese, lemon curd and French sorrel. Olivia and her team-mate, Charlotte Taylor, secured first place for WHS overall, and Sarah Macnab and Katie Pull from Whanganui Girls' College came second equal, while Whanganui City College's Arapeta Latus gained third place.

Mr Peeti said the teams competed well and there was good camaraderie in the kitchen.

"I think it would be great to look at combining the school teams and sending a Whanganui team to the national competition next year," he said.

Katie Pull and Sarah Macnab were last year's winners for WGC and went on to bring home gold and silver medals from the Taranaki/Wanganui Hospitality Competitions at the Western Institute of Technology in New Plymouth.