The staging criteria and rules stated in an individual Honey Show Schedule always take precedence over the advice given below:
Classes for which guidance is given below may not feature in a particular Show’s schedule.
CONTAINERS / STAGING:
Extracted HONEY should be exhibited in standard clear glass 454g squat jars with plain gold-coloured screw top lids. To ensure a full 1lb weight, no air gap should be visible below the lid. No tamper or other labels should be affixed other than those issued by the Show Secretary.
MEAD should be exhibited in punted clear glass wine bottles, without decoration or fluting, and closed with a cork stopper with a white plastic flange. The surface of the liquid in the bottle should be no more than half an inch below the base of the cork stopper.
Where there are multiple entries in a particular class, a judge will make his / her final selection for awards from the exhibits that displease him / her the least. Presentation is all!
ATTACHMENT OF CLASS ENTRY LABELS:
Class entry labels affixed to Honey jars and Mead bottles should be no less than 12mm and no more than 15mm from the bottom of the container to the lower edge of the label.
For cut comb a single label on the right-hand top corner of the lid(s) or see-through part of the dust-proof containers.
A frame ready for extraction should be in a dust-proof display case with frame easily removable for judging. One label should be affixed to the top right-hand corner of one of the side viewing glass panes and the second at the right-hand end of the top bar of the frame itself.
Class labels for candles should be affixed near the base and on any associated holder.
Labels for wax blocks should be affixed to
- the underside of the wax
- the display plate (or similar) / the interior of the exhibitor’s own protective case (if any)
- the protective cover / the exterior of the exhibitor’s own protective case (if any).
The class labels issued for ‘Six jars labelled for sale’ should be affixed to the rear of the jars. On staging, the first jar should be turned so that its class label is to the front.
Where a plate (or similar) and cover is provided for Cake classes, one label is to be affixed to the plate and one to the cover.
For Gift classes, one label is to be attached to the honey jar as prescribed above and one on the envelope containing the exhibitor’s own label.
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All honey and honey comb must be the product of the exhibitor’s own bees and wax primarily so.
For a ‘Six jars labelled for sale’ class, tamper labels are optional. Any, or all, of the jars may be opened.
Candles should be in their own candlestick or holder. One may be lit by the judge.
Honey used as an ingredient in the cake classes can be from any source as can honey or wax used in the preparation of ‘other hive products’ such as polish, lip balm, moisturising cream and the like. The displayed item must be the property of the exhibitor.
Entries in ‘other hive product ‘ classes e.g. polish, fudge, soap, lip balm etc may be simply labelled or packaged as for sale. Packaging may be removed for judging.
A novice is a person who has not previously won a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Award in a particular class at the level at which they are competing – i.e. village produce shows, branch or county honey shows.
An exhibitor may not enter more than two exhibits in any one class and no exhibit may be shown in more than one class. No exhibitor or exhibit may win more than one prize in each class.
All entries are staged at the exhibitor’s own risk.
The Judges will use the NHS recognised BD grading glasses to distinguish between light, medium and dark run honeys. Exhibitors are advised to do the same to determine the class in which to enter.
The organisers, in the person of the Honey Show Secretary, have the power to refuse any entry that they consider to infringe the rules and to decide in what classes competitors are eligible to compete.
The decision of the Honey Show Secretary on any matter relating to the Show (except judging) shall be final.
GENERAL
Read a Show’s schedule and rules carefully – twice!
Comply with entry deadlines, staging requirements and fees if payable.
Seek advice from knowledgeable ‘showing’ members if necessary.
The standards applied to a hive product for showing should be no more than those for one prepared for sale.
Practice makes perfect!