unique custom fields value still not working

 <?php
  query_posts( array( 'post_type' => 'post', 'showposts' => 10 ) );
  if ( have_posts() ) : while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
?>


                <?php $judges = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'judge', false); ?>



    <ul>
        <?php foreach($judges as $judge) {


            echo '<li>'; ?>
            <a href="<?php echo esc_url( home_url( '/' ) ); ?>judge/<?php echo get_post_meta($post->ID, 'judge', true) ?>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>">

            <?php echo $judge; ?>
            <?php  echo '</a></li>';



} ?>
    </ul>



            <?php endwhile; endif; wp_reset_query(); ?>





<h1>Following is new code being tested</h1>


<?php            // The Query
$the_query = new WP_Query( 'meta_key=participate' );

// The Loop
while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) : $the_query->the_post();

     $judges = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'judge', false); ?>
    <ul>
        <?php foreach($judges as $judge) {


            echo '<li>'; ?>
            <a href="<?php echo esc_url( home_url( '/' ) ); ?>judge/<?php echo get_post_meta($post->ID, 'judge', true) ?>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>">

            <?php echo $judge; ?>
            <?php  echo '</a></li>';



} ?>
    </ul>

<?php endwhile;

// Reset Post Data
wp_reset_postdata();
     ?>