Yes, I was thinking about carb time, as I'd like to enter a brew that has been conditioning for a few weeks but I probably won't have time to bottle it until this coming weekend (26th / 27th).
I'm still very much a beginner, and you're right, if I am at all serious about competing I shouldn't rely on that time for carbonation. I'll reconsider entering that brew.
Give it a go, all it is going to cost you is $5 and a bottle of beer. I just bottled as Weizen at the weekend but would have prefered a couple more weeks. Not expecting to win, but still value the feedback for $5.