The new reigning Gingerbread champions were announced on Monday.

Fourteen entries competed for honours in the Elbow Beach Gingerbread House Competition with Jennifer Simmons capturing the Adult Amateur title, Georgina and Luke Bell winning the Child category and Bloomfield Primary School taking the Schools title.

A trio of judges — Cooper & Gardner architect Duncan Robson, cake designer Juliette Jackson and Elbow Beach executive chef Anthony Reynolds — evaluated the gingerbread houses based on creativity, stability and structural soundness and reflection of a Christmas theme. The majority of the house had to be made of a food product.

The winner in the Adult category received a two-night stay at the hotel in the Bird of Paradise Cottage, including daily breakfast and a dinner in the Seahorse Grill for two while the Child category winners will have a private party at the hotel for ten with lunch and a magician.

As Schools winner, Bloomfield will receive a private party for 20 members of the winning class, with lunch.

This was the sixth year that the hotel has run the competition and workshops were held last month to give the public tips on how to make the best Gingerbread house possible.