RULES 1. The Show is open to any amateur. 2. Club vases must be used except where stated and sundry items needed to stage the exhibit must be provided by the exhibitor. Every care will be taken of the sundries, but the Committee cannot accept any responsibility for breakages or losses. 3. A Novice is an exhibitor who has not won more than two first prizes in the same Novice section in the previous 3 years. 4. Packing is allowed for cut flowers, but no artificial supports are permissible. 5. Exhibits must be staged between 08.00 and 10:55 and the hall vacated prior to commencement of judging at 11:00. 6. Exhibitors not wishing their entries to be sold should ask for a 'Not For Sale' label to affix to the entry card. Exhibits may be removed between 15.45 and 16.00 hours, but all entries on show after that time will be sold in aid of Club funds. 7. Either Official entry forms to be used or email entries, stating the exhibitor’s name, address and class numbers entered. Forms to be accompanied by the entrance fee of 25p for each class entered emails entries to be paid for on the day of show. Children’s Classes are FREE. Email entries should be sent by 3pm Saturday before the show. 8. All entry forms will be accepted by the Show Secretary: - 8.1 Between 19.00 and 20.30 hours on the Wednesday before the Show at California Hall. 8.2 At the Club’s monthly meeting preceding the Show. 8.3 By email to: turner1235@btinternet.com 8.4 Late entries will be accepted at the discretion of the Show Secretary up to 10.30 on the day of the Show, accompanied by an entry fee of 30p. No late entries are allowed for Flower Arranging classes. 9. No person may enter more than one exhibit in any one class. 10. Prizes will be: 1st - 70p; 2nd – 50p; 3rd – 30p. 11. The Judges’ decisions will be final. 12. Any complaint must be made to the Show Secretary before 3:45pm on the day of the show. 13. The Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry not according to Schedule. 14. Any matter not provided for in these Rules shall be dealt with by the Show Secretary at his or her discretion and whose decision shall be binding. 15. All entries in the Children’s, Domestic, Floral Art and Handicraft sections must be the sole work of the exhibitor. 16. All pot plants must have been in the exhibitor’s possession for a minimum of 3 months. 17. Money prizes may be collected from the Club Treasurer between 15.00 and 16.00 hours on the day of the Show. Any prizes not claimed by the end of the Show will be returned to Club funds. 18. Points for calculation of awards: 1st – 3 points; 2nd – 2 points; 3rd – 1 point.
SHOW NOTES - To aid and assist members who may not have shown before, the following notes may be helpful. If you are unsure how to stage or exhibit, or this is your first Show, then please ask a Committee member at a meeting or on the morning of the Show, to introduce you to an experienced member of the Club who can answer queries. Please remember that help and advice are always readily available.
Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables -Read the schedule carefully and be sure that the number of specimens and groupings per variety are correct. -It is recommended that you use the smallest Club vase that will comfortably hold the exhibit. Please ask for an alternative sized vase if required. -Aim for uniformity of freshness, size, shape and colour. -If you wish to read more about show techniques the Horticultural Show Handbook published by the Royal Horticultural Society is worth reading. A copy is available, for reference purposes only, at all meetings or in the Trading Hut. This book is widely accepted and forms a standard reference for all who take part in shows, judges, exhibitors and organisers alike. -Please name your exhibit whenever possible as this adds the final touch for the benefit of the judge and public.
Domestic Our judge have been asked to assess all entries on taste first (i.e. quality of the actual jam, cake etc.). ONLY in the case of a tie, the following guidelines will be applied as the deciding factor:-
Baking
savoury scones & biscuits should be cut with straight sides, sweet ones with fluted sides
sweet items presented on frilly doilies
plain (not necessarily white), flat plates are much better. Not paper.
following the recipe that is given, this also includes the instructions for decoration and filling e.g. do not sprinkle with caster sugar if method states icing sugar; do not decorate at all if nothing stated
when not given the recipe, look up a “classic” method for presentation details
the base of cake tins should be lined (not commercial, pre-shaped tin liners)
items which have been frozen must be fully defrosted
Jam, Marmalade, Chutney, Pickles
jars and lids should not show commercial origins such as name of previous contents, embossed bees or words in the glass
jars should be cylindrical i.e. circular cross section, vertical sides (not hexagonal, octagonal, bulbous, etc.)
jars must be labelled with contents and date made; labels should be half way up the jar and parallel to the base; they can be hand written or printed
seals must be airtight; either twist tops or waxed circles and cellophane; not screw thread tops like on honey jars
‘frilly hats’ make no difference to the judge’s decision which is based on flavour, texture, colour
Guidelines to exhibitors. The following may be helpful to exhibitors: Plants - All pot sizes are measured across the top edge (inside diameter). - Plants usually grown for their ornamental foliage are not debarred from Foliage Classes simply because they happen to be in flower at the time of the competition. However, when judging a ‘Foliage Class’ judges must take no account of any flowers on a plant.
Flowers Good fresh condition with approximately 70% of flowers fully developed. The foliage should be clean, healthy and undamaged by weather or pests.
Daffodils (Narcissus) Flower carried at nearly a right angle to the stem except in species and hybrids where a pendent flower is typical. Calyx & corolla (calyx & corolla combined are called the perianth) of smooth texture. Corona or crown of good colour, texture and in proportion to the perianth. Stem, straight and strong and in proportion. Perianth and corona symmetrical. In double cultivars, segments and colour symmetrically arranged.
Fuchsias A vigorous, symmetrical, floriferous plant, well furnished with clean foliage and fresh blooms of good colour. Support and ties (if any) neat and unobtrusive.
Fuchsia Heads Fresh, then perfection — every petal should show no signs of decay, damage or discolouration. Symmetry between each head and as a collection.
Roses Specimen bloom: Fresh, no blemishes, full size for cultivar. Petals regularly arranged within circular outline, well-formed centre. Colour, bright and brilliant. Other than specimen bloom: As for specimen, but additionally well-formed foliage of good size and texture. Strong stems.
Tulips Flowers in good condition, unblemished, of good colour and smooth texture, Stems must be stiff and strong enough to carry the flowers.
Pot plants Clean pots, neat staking. Preference given for decorative rather than botanical value. Shapely plant with healthy unblemished foliage with flowers of good size and colour. Plants that are usually grown for their ornamental foliage are not debarred from foliage plant classes if they are in flower at the time of the competition. They can also be considered for entry into flowering plant classes. However, in judging a foliage class, no account will be taken of any flowers on the plant.
When showing Soft Fruit e.g. Raspberries, Blackberries, Loganberries, Strawberries should be shown with stalks on. Top Fruits e.g. Apples, Plums, Pears etc. should be shown with stalks on. Carrots to be shown with leaves trimmed to 75mm and neatly tied. Can be washed. Beetroot to be shown with leaves trimmed to 75mm and neatly tied. Can be gently washed. Onions, Shallots to be shown with tops bent and tied and roots trimmed. Do not over peel. Runner Beans, French Beans to be shown with stalks on. Rhubarb to be shown with leaves trimmed to 75mm and the bottom white heel left on. Lettuce to be shown with roots washed and left on. The roots can be wrapped in moist kitchen roll and put in a polythene bag. Potatoes to be gently washed and shown on plates with “rose” end outwards. Can be covered with damp kitchen roll. Courgettes, Cucumbers to be shown with or without flowers left on. Squash to be shown with the stalks attached. Tomatoes to be shown with stalks left on.