The Irish Hair Championships 2010 were held at the RDS Dublin last weekend. Want to know how we got on?

After all the inspiration, perspiration and preparation we went up to Dublin last Sunday to the Irish Hairdressing Championships.

Stylist Elaine Shaw (right) was in the "Senior Ladies Long Hair Up Hairstyle" - Upstyle to you and me - accompanied by model Emma.

The Full Fashion event just before ours was really amazing - it's a category where the sky's the limit, hard to really enjoy it while waiting nervously for our event... and then it was time to put all the preparation into practice!

The timing was completely strict for the competitors - just 21 minutes to create the look. The style Elaine chose was a contemporary update to the traditional french roll - which is a really technical style, extremely tough for the time allowed.

Smile for the roving cameraman!

If you thought Pop Idol was tough on competitors, you ain't seen nothing yet. Over 500 hairdressers from all over Ireland are watching every movement. This is a highly professional event - this is no place for amateurs.

It doesn't seem like 21 minutes, but there's the countdown and the final shout - and now it's time for the judges. Don't expect fly-by-night chancers here, the judges have years of experience and many are internationally known. Emma (centre)

The final look - a contemporary, tough, feminine update to a classic "audrey hepburn"-style look. Just think about Breakfast at Tiffany's mixed with Sex & the City and you're getting there.

Unfortunately this wasn't to be Elaine's evening - the judges were looking for something else and it wasn't us. But it's been a great experience for all of us and we competed at the highest level - even taking part is winning, in our book at least!

So there it is - the championships are over for another year. We'll add just one more update shortly with a few more details about the final look and styling.

In the meantime, thanks for all your support - see you in the Salon! :)