Rules for Exhibitors

Please read carefully to avoid disqualification

If you need clarification of the rules or description of the classes, any member of the Show Committee will be pleased to help, see the list of names of Committee members in the Yearbook. On show day, Stewards will be in the hall and staging room to give every assistance. A useful reference for exhibitors is the RHS Horticultural Show Handbook which can be obtained from the RHS at Wisley, or a copy is available for inspection from the Show Manager.

General

1. The Show Committee reserves the right to interpret the rules in the best interest of the Show, including the right to refuse an entry, the Show Manager being the referee.
2. The Show Committee reserves the right to visit, by permission, before or after a show, gardens and allotments from which plants, flowers, fruit or vegetables have been entered for competition.

Entries

3. All horticultural entries must be the bona-fide produce of the exhibitor, grown by him/her for a period of at least six weeks before the date of the show and must be clean and free from disease. Containers should also be clean and free from damage.

4. All other entries must only be the work of the exhibitor

5. All entries are accepted on condition that the Society is not responsible for loss or damage to any exhibit or to the exhibitor’s personal property.

6. Entry forms must be received by the Show Recorder by 4pm on the Wednesday prior to the show. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Earlier entries would be much appreciated. In case of difficulties please phone: 07954 670319
or
email: show.recorder@hihs.org.uk

7. The entry fees for classes, unless otherwise specified are:
• 50p for all classes
• Free for children’s classes (classes 81-96)

Afternoon Show entry is free to all adult exhibitors with three or more entries.

8. Limitations.
a. No person shall stage more than one entry per class.
b. Only one entry per household in classes 1-47.

EXHIBITING

9. Entry cards must be collected from the Reception Desk on arrival at the hall. Each to be placed name downwards by the relevant exhibit. If not entering, mark the card “No Entry” and place the card on the show bench.

10. Use a Variety Card (available from a Steward) to indicate the variety of bloom or plant. There are also “variety not known” cards available. Please note, in the event of a tie, the entry with a named variety will be selected.

11. Stewards are present during staging to advise but it is the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure that the entry conforms in all respects with the schedule.

12. Exhibits should be staged as attractively as possible. Quality and uniformity are vital and are more important than size.

13. Apart from the exhibitor, only Stewards may move exhibits for the following reasons:-

a. Before judging, as little as is necessary to make room on the show benches for other exhibits.

b. After judging, as much as is necessary to present an attractive and well balanced show bench to the public.

14. After staging and before leaving the hall, exhibitors must check that their entries are in accordance with the schedule and the correct entry card is name down by each exhibit.

HORTICULTURAL CLASSES

15. Fruit and vegetable entries – each entry must consist of one cultivar only unless mixed entries are permitted by the Showing and Judging Standards. Numbers in an entry and maximum points in a collection are specified in the Showing and Judging Standards on the website (www.hihs.org.uk)

16. All Classes are open to members and non-members.

17. Society vases (provided) to be used for classes 1-26. The stems of cut material must reach water and the vases may be packed with clean paper (provided) or with natural material. Newspaper must not be used because of discolouration to the vases.

18. Rings are available for measuring exhibits for which specified sizes are quoted. They must pass through without touching.

19. Vegetables must be shown on the plates provided. Roots must be carefully washed. Beet, carrots, parsnips and swedes should have the leaves cut so that approximately 75mm of leaf stalk remains. Radishes should have foliage trimmed back to 30mm. Onions should be trimmed back to the basal plate.

20. Fruit must be shown on the plates provided. The appearance of fruit is enhanced by its natural bloom. Apples must not be polished. All fruit except apricots, peaches and nectarines should be shown with stalks. Currants should be shown in strigs as grown.

21. Definitions.
Staging/staged the process of preparing and arranging your exhibit for presentation to the Judges.
Novice is an exhibitor who has not won a 1st prize in any relevant class at any HIHS show.
Vase has a height greater than the width of its mouth.
Bowl has a width equal to or greater than its height.
Pot/Container the diameter of a pot/container is the inside measurement made as close to the top as possible. With square or rectangular pots/containers it is the inside measurement made straight across the top at right angles to the rim.
Cultivar is the international name for “variety”, e.g. “Peace” is a variety of rose.
House plants given reasonable treatment will thrive in a dwelling room for several years.
Pot plants are for use in a greenhouse or for short periods in a dwelling room.
Display is primarily for attractiveness of the arrangement.
Shrub is a woody stemmed plant, naturally branched from or near the base, lacking a single trunk.
Stem a stem is the main stalk and flower(s).
Foliage the inclusion of foliage from plants other than those of the flower/seed heads/ fruits being exhibited in the vase is not permitted.
Orchids must be of a minimum of second year growth; first year growth will b classified as “not as schedule”.

COOKERY
22. All dishes exhibited must be covered by a display cover or cling film. Display covers are provided by the Society and can be obtained from the Stewards on the morning of the show. Plates, bowls and dishes must be plain and white, to assist anonymity. If needed, white plates are available from the Stewards.

23. Pastry, bread, pizza and cake mixes are to be homemade from raw ingredients.

24. Items of food exhibited in the Cookery and Children’s classes are not to be sold, raffled or given away, as they have not been stored in accordance with Food Safety Regulations. Fresh cream must not be used for decoration or filling.

25. No meat or fish to be used in any recipe.

26. The contents of a jar should be clearly labelled including the day, month and year of making. Jams etc should reach within 3mm of the top of the jar and be covered with a waxed disc and cellophane top OR a vacuum sealed, metal lid. Chutneys should reach within 12mm of the top of the jar. Jars containing vinegar must have brand new metal screw tops. Coffee jars must not be used. Pickles and chutneys should be at least 12 weeks old, unless otherwise stated. They must be ready to eat.

HANDICRAFT
27. Items of handicraft must be the work of the exhibitor. To be displayed in a maximum area of 600mm x 600mm unless otherwise stated. Items may be folded to fit space. No item of handicraft may be entered into a HIHS show on more than one occasion.

PHOTOGRAPHY
28. Own work. The photograph must be the work of the exhibitor. The photograph may be professionally developed and printed. Photographs may not be entered into a HIHS show on more than one occasion. Maximum print size 210mm x 297mm unless otherwise stated. Mounting optional.

FLOWER ARRANGING

29. No floral foam to be used.
30. An exhibit is composed of natural plant material with or without accessories. Staging will be in alcoves approximately 560mm deep x 610mm wide. Height optional unless otherwise stated.

JUNIOR EXHIBITORS
31. Children’s classes have three separate groups – Preschool & Infant school children (age 4 – 7 as at
31 August), Junior school children (age 8 – 11 as at 31 August) and Secondary school children (age
12-16 as at 31 August).
32. Prizes are awarded for each class.
33. The design and construction of exhibits must be entirely the exhibitor’s work.
34. A label naming the exhibitor must be firmly fixed to the exhibit and out of view.

JUDGING
35. No person other than the Judges, Stewards and others appointed by the Show Committee may be
present during judging.
36. The Judges’ decisions are final with regard to the relative merit of the exhibits.
37. Protests must be made in writing to the Show Manager, with a fee of £1, not later than 3pm on the
day of the show. In the event of a dispute being upheld the fee will be returned.

PRIZES AND TROPHIES
38. Points for exhibits will be awarded as follows:
1st = 4, 2nd = 3, 3rd = 2 and 4th = 1
39. Prizes or medals may be awarded or withheld at the discretion of the judges and Show Manager if
the quality of entries is not sufficiently high. Prizes and medals will not be withheld because there
are insufficient entries.
40. Winners of Children’s classes will be awarded medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Prize money for
other classes will be awarded as follows unless otherwise stated in the schedule:
1st = £2, 2nd = £1.50, 3rd = £1.
Prize money will be paid out at the Treasurer’s desk when announced, at about 3pm on the day of
the Show. Any unclaimed after one month will be returned to Society funds.

REMOVAL OF EXHIBITS
41. After the prize-giving (at 4pm) an announcement will be made that exhibits may be removed. Any
exhibit remaining ten minutes after the announcement will be donated to local causes.

EXHIBITING FOR THE FIRST TIME?
PLEASE READ THE RULES FOR EXHIBITORS VERY CAREFULLY
If you need clarification of the rules or description of the classes, any member of the Show Committee will be pleased to help. A useful reference for exhibitors is the RHS Horticultural Show Handbook which can be obtained from the RHS at Wisley, or a copy is available for inspection from the Show Manager. On show days, stewards will be in the hall to give every assistance.