Meet the finalists (from left): Carmen Clarke, Leslie Bernard, Janice Edwards, Claudette Franscique, Natalee Ffrench, Jassette Jackson, Verna Gordon-Binns, and Yvonne Coleman. - photos by Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

You took up the challenge and the entries came rolling in. We say sorry to the entrant from England and hope you can come home to enter next year. We encourage the entrants who did not make the finals to try again next year and to look out for our Easter bun contest early next year.

Congratulations to the winners who pushed the envelope in creativity and gave us themes like fantasy. Christmas gifts, gardening, tropical Jamaica and seasonal fruits.

But most important, a big thanks to our sponsor J. Wray and Nephew whose brand Red Label Wine provided over $90,000 in products and prizes for winners and finalists. Thanks to our special guest judge, Miss Jamaica World 2007, Yendi Phillipps, who knows quite a lot about making Christmas cakes. And, to Andrew Pryce and Marilyn Bennett who judged on behalf of the sponsors. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Claudette Franscique (left) gives her daughter, Michelle Franscique, a warm hug after she won this year's Red Label Wine Gleaner Christmas Cake Contest.

Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillipps (left), celebrity judge for the Red Label Wine Christmas Cake Contest, goes for another piece of Claudette Franscique's cake, while Andrew Price and Marilyn Bennett write their comments.