It is possible that the judges weren't impartial, but not likely. There have been times when I felt judging was unfair, but when I calmed down and thought rationally about it, the winning quilts were better.
In this case, maybe the quilter who won was the quilt designer. Or as others have mentioned, maybe there was something better done about the winner...in a judged contest, the devil really is in the details, even some we might not notice - I believe it was Ann Fahl who shared one of her judges' comments: "Cat hair does not enhance the top." LOL.
And MTS??? Regarding your comment about Sharon Schamber on the other thread, I have a whole list of quilters I wish would stop competing...but then again, it would so much sweeter to enter and beat them. I can dream, anyway!
Janet