Bakers from Bakehouse Delights at East Nowra, Bakers Delight Nowra Mall and Woolworths Stockland Nowra have walked away with most of the awards.

Five apprentices from Bakehouse Delights starred taking out a number of placings and champion awards including champion white loaf, wholegrain and multigrain as well as the highly sought after perpetual memorial trophy for three loaves – fruit, wholemeal hi-top and white square.

Fourth-year apprentices John Reminis Jnr and Adam Morris were joined by third-year Alex Ivanoff and second years Matt Moon and Craig Power in a dominating performance.

Dean McCudden of Bakers Delight Nowra Mall secured a number of placings, including the champion gourmet loaf and the prestigious champion loaf of the show.

Adam Evans, a second-year apprentice at Woolworths Stockland Nowra, picked up a second for his uncoated top deck and a third with his filled tea cake.

Along with The Gumnut Patisserie on the Sothern Highlands the locals dominated the competition, taking out 70 per cent of the trophies awarded.

Judges at the competition asked what was in the water on the South Coast after the locals’ success.

Well-known local baker John Reminis Snr puts it down to hard work.

“The boys all work incredibly hard and deserve their success,” he said.

“It is a combination of hard work, training, expertise and knowledge, dedication and the odd secret recipe here and there.

“It’s fantastic for the area to taste this sort of success.”

The next big competition for the local bakers is the Wollongong Bread Show in August.

Three of the Bakehouse Delights apprentices also face some big individual competitions with John Reminis Jnr off to the World Skills in Perth in September, Alex Ivanoff taking part in the LA Judge Competition in Sydney in May, while Matt Moon is off to the Fine Food Bake Skills Australian competition in Melbourne.