From time to time I have been giving tips to participants. If your blooms have not reached a stage where they can be taken to the competition, you can cut and dip the lower end in luke-warm water a day before the competition. The buds will open faster. This holds true in case of rose buds, gladiolus, dahlia, carnation etc. Do not use colour dyes.
Judges ignore dyed flowers.
Also do not try to transplant annuals from beds to pots. It is easily recognisable and you may be disqualified. See that the pots you take to the show are clean and have no green moulds on them. Do not paint them with harsh colours, as it is distracting. Do not leave any weeds in the pot and also bring up the level of soil in the pots, if it is too low, with a mixture of soil, sand and manure.