Produce Section 2 – Flowers

• All exhibits in section 1 & 2 must have been grown by the exhibitor.
• Always bring extra items and choose the best when staging your exhibit.
• If a class asks for more than one item remember the judges will be looking for condition and uniformity (shape, size and colour).
• Check that you exhibit the correct number of items required in the class description.
• All vegetables should be lightly washed as appropriate.
• Only exhibit items that are free of disease and\or pests such as aphids.
• All exhibits are fresh, cut flowers and must be grown by the exhibitor.
• The container forms part of the exhibit and will be judged accordingly.

Class number
20 Begonia – 1 bloom, any variety
21 Clematis – 1 bloom, any variety
22 Dahlia – 3 blooms, of the same variety
23 Hosta – 1 leaf, any variety
24 Hydrangea head -1
25 Rose – 3 of the same variety
26 Pansy – 6 of same colour and variety
27 Phlox – 3 of the same variety
28 Single floating flower – stem cut to 25 cm (1’’) maximum, no foliage
29 Sweet peas – maximum of 15 sprays, any variety in a vase, judged on scent
30 Pot plant fuchsia – maximum height 60 cm (2ft)
31 Pot plant geranium (pelargonium) – maximum height 60 cm (2ft)
32 Jam jar of mixed garden flowers – no additional foliage
33 Open class – any single bloom not covered above

Produce Section 3 – Baking

• All items must be home baked.
• Paper plates available if required.

Class number
34 Apple pie – shortcrust pastry, maximum size 25cm (10”)
35 Coffee and walnut cake – any recipe
36 Fudge –8 pieces any recipe
37 Gluten free cake – any recipe
38 Savoury biscuits – 6 pieces any recipe
39 Tea Loaf – any recipe
40 Fruit scones – 4 any recipe

Produce Section 4 – Preserves and Chutneys

• Containers must be clear glass, labelled with contents and date.
• Tops can be screwed or cellophane but not both. Remove waxed circles.
• Bottles must be easily opened for judging.

Class number
41 Jar stoned fruit jam
42 Jar non stoned fruit jam
43 Jar marmalade
44 Jar chutney
45 Jar pickled beetroot
46 Jar lemon curd
47 Bottle sloe gin
48 Bottle elderflower cordial

Craft Section 5 – General

• The crafts must not have been previously exhibited in any show.
• Crafts are judged on material choice, skill and presentation.

Class number
49 Cushions – 40cmx40cm (16”x16”), pad inserted
50 Hand knitted item – any item
51 Embroidery – any item
52 Crochet – any item
53 Machine or hand quilted item – any item, no cushions
54 Jewellery – any item
55 Ladies scarf or small shawl made from fabric, silk or wool
56 Soft furnishing – any item, not quilted, no cushions
57 An item made from re-cycled soft materials – hard materials may be used in the structure only

Crafts Section 6 – ‘Hard’ Materials

• The crafts must not have been previously exhibited in any show.
• Crafts are judged on material choice, skill and presentation.

Class number
58 Item of wicker work using willow, rushes, twigs, cane etc.
59 Item of woodwork or metalwork
60 A garden trug – made of any material
61 A bird or bat box – made of any material
62 A walking or thumb stick
63 A decorated plant pot
64 An item made from re-cycled hard materials

Crafts Section 7 – Art

• Art work must not have been previously exhibited in any show.
• Unframed art work must be in a mount but need not hang.

Class Number
65 Abstract – any medium
66 Landscape – any medium
67 Portrait – human or animal, any medium
68 Still life – any medium
69 Flower or flowers – any medium
70 Pottery – any item
71 Sculpture – any item

Craft Section 8 – Flower arrangements

• Flowers and foliage used in arrangements may be bought and may be fresh, dried or silk.
• The container forms part of the exhibit and will be judged accordingly.

Class number
72 A table decoration for a summer wedding – maximum size 25cmx25cmx25cm (10”x10”10”)
73 A miniature arrangement – maximum height 15cm (6’’)
74 An arrangement on a plate incorporating fruit – maximum plate size 30cm (12”) diameter
75 Arrangement of foliage for a side table – any colours, maximum height 75cm (2’6’’)
77 A cushion of flowers – maximum size 25cmx25cmx25cm (10”x10”10”)
78 A hand held posy – maximum length 25cm (10”)

Craft Section 9 – Photography

• Photographs must not have been previously exhibited in any show.
• All photographs must be 18cm x13cm (7’’x5’’), with no additional mounting or frame.

Class number
79 The weather
80 Shadow or reflection
81 Farming
82 Wildlife – bird, animal or insect
83 A cute pet
84 Flower portrait
85 St Andrew’s Church, Whissendine
86 Footwear
87 A celebration
88 Make us laugh

Junior Section 11 – up to age 8

• Age to be stated on the entry slip and will be taken into account when judging.
• Paper plates are available if required.

Class number
89 A painted or decorated hard-boiled egg – shell left on
90 A decorated paper plate – any medium, maximum diameter 25cm (10”)
91 Model of a figure – any modelling material, maximum height 15cm (6’’)
92 A vehicle made from fruit and/or vegetables
93 Item made from re-cycled materials – maximum size 30cmx30cmx30cm (1’x1’x1’)
94 A Lego model – not from a kit, maximum size 20cmx20cmx20cm (8”x8”x8”)
95 Sunflower head – greatest diameter
96 Open craft – not covered in any other class

Junior Section 12 – aged 9-16

• Age to be stated on the entry slip and will be taken into account when judging.
• Exhibits presented on a provided paper plate if required by the class description.

Class number
97 A decorated paper plate – any medium
98 Decorated cup-cakes – 4 on paper plate provided
99 Model of a figure – any modelling material, maximum height 15cm (6’’)
100 A craft item made from a kit
101 An item made from re-cycled materials – maximum size 30cmx30cmx30cm (1’x1’x1’)
102 A design on paper of a team’s sports kit
103 A design on paper of a new Super Hero
104 Sunflower head – greatest diameter
105 Open craft – not covered in any other category

Last year there were a total of 167 exhibits in the Vegetable and Fruit section of our annual show. That was a great achievement considering the challenging weather conditions in 2018, with a cold wet spell in spring, followed by a long summer drought.

This year there are four new classes, Brassica, Dwarf French Beans, Tray of three root vegetables and Heaviest Tomato, as well as many old favourites.

This is a good time of the year to start planning ahead. If the weather is fair and the ground is not too wet, begin preparing the ground. Dig in well rotted manure or garden compost.

Now is also a good time to check the seed catalogues, or search online for your chosen seed varieties, ready to sow in the spring.

If you have limited outdoor space many of the vegetable and fruit classes can be grown successfully in pots in the garden or on the patio.

Remember to feed your plants regularly once they are established. This is especially important if grown in pots as they will quickly exhaust the nutrients in the compost.

Also check for pests regularly and deal promptly with any you find.

Any classes asking for more than one item will be judged on condition and uniformity, shape, colour and size, so make sure you select your exhibits carefully.

Let’s hope we have a fine spring and summer and produce some great vegetables and fruit.

Good luck.

John Clift-Hill

To all our youngsters!

It may seem a long time until you will be enjoying your summer holidays, but now is the time to be thinking about which classes you would like to enter.

The schedules have been delivered, so have a peep at the junior classes. We have made some changes this year.

You could try making something out of re-cycled materials, design a team sports kit or grow a sunflower. We have kept the old favourite – decorate a paper plate – this has been so popular and attracts many entries.

If you are away, don’t worry, someone else can enter 4 items on your behalf.

Don’t forget, every youngster that enters will receive a rosette and you never know, you could win the Junior Shield award!

Looking forward to seeing all your entries.

Sarah Bysouth.

The photography section in the Whissendine Craft and Produce Show has always been well supported, so we hope the classes for this year’s show will encourage you to get out and about with your camera again!  We have kept some favourite classes from previous years but also added some new ones – so get creative with footwear, farming and our beautiful St Andrew’s Church.

To help, we asked the judge who will be presiding over the photographic section for advice to pass onto you and this is what he said:

• Try to use your imagination to give your photo the ‘Wow’ factor and make it stand out from the rest.
• Look for different ways to photograph familiar objects. Don’t always photograph from the obvious viewpoint.
• Avoid fussy backgrounds which can sometimes distract the viewer.
• Fuzzy pictures are sometimes caused by camera shake, try to brace yourself when you are taking a photograph.
• Make sure your pictures are well lit unless you are deliberately trying to create atmosphere.
• Enjoy your photography, whatever the weather and don’t be put off entering the competition!

Again, all entries must be the same size at 18 x13cms (7’’x5’’) with no additional mounting. Photographs must not have been previously exhibited in any show but there is no rule about when the photograph was taken.

We hope this gives you something to aim for and will again build on the wonderful standards of previous years.

Jean Penny

To all lovers of flowers!!

Two of the most colourful sections of our show are those relating to flowers.  We have Flowers (Produce Section 2) and Flower arrangements (Craft Section 8).  The common factors are of course to show off wonderful flowers but the two sections have some important differences.  In Section 2 it is all about the produce and so all flowers exhibited must be fresh cut flowers and must be grown by the exhibitor.  While for Section 8 the emphasis is on the skill of the arrangement and so the flowers and foliage used in arrangements may be bought and may be fresh, dried or silk – you decide.

Whichever you choose to enter (hopefully both!), our judges have given some useful hints.

• Use the best examples of flowers and foliage that you have and avoid any with insect or slug damage.
• The containers form part of the exhibits so try to be imaginative but be sure that the containers used are not overpowering.
• Give some thought to colour, texture and design and what you are trying to convey.
• Follow the instructions carefully. When exhibiting flowers, if it says 3 flowers, put 3 in, no more, no less and pay particular attention to the maximum dimensions of your flower arrangements.
• And finally make sure your number is clearly marked and easily seen on your exhibit.

It will be great to see the church once again full of wonderful flowers at the show!

Jean Penny

We have so many talented crafters and artists in Whissendine and hope we have lots of wonderful entries again this year.  As always, we have asked the judges for any hints and tips to pass on to everyone and here is what they said.

You should read the rules and work within them (the C&P show committee say this every time!).  Select the class that shows off your skills, as there will be many entries in each class, so make yours unique with careful thought about the presentation.  For recycled exhibits, a note stating the purpose of any recycled item if not immediately obvious would be helpful. 

For section 5, the judge will be looking at ‘colour combination texture of material and shapes used, the quality of your workmanship, neatness, use of techniques and appropriately finished’.

For section 6 (Hard Materials) the judge said that ‘the weave of wicker work should be a tight, metalwork and woodwork exhibits should have nice clean joints with no sharp edges and there should be nothing in a trug to damage fruit and vegetables.  Bird boxes should be made so that you can get into them to clean and walking sticks should have good smooth joints and be fitted with tip (or ferrules)’.

In section 7 (Art), the judge will be looking for exhibits ‘that are easy on the eye with good design, good colour and a degree of craftsmanship’.

I hope this helps and we all look forward to seeing a wonderful display of Whissendine work.

Jean Penny

Yummy yummy yummy – baking and preserves are two of the most popular sections in our Show and it’s no wonder as we have so many great cooks in the village.  And it’s amazing how many people volunteer to be a judge in these sections but – sorry – we have experienced judges from out of the village to help us!

We have taken note of your feedback from previous shows and this year there are no classes exclusive for ladies or men in the baking section.   So no excuses as all classes are open to everyone – EQUALITY!

When asked for advice, the judges of the baking section said ‘to read the schedule carefully as the number of folk that don’t is surprising and entrants are disappointed by not being included in the results’.  This advice has come for so many of our judges, so it must be important……..

For preserves, the judges ask for ‘either 12oz or 1lb jars with screw tops or cellophane but not both’. They also asked that ‘all jars and bottles are wiped clean of stickiness and clearly labelled’.

The final judgement for all the entries in the baking and preserves sections, is based on ‘which would you want to eat or drink again’.  So we are really looking forward to seeing lots of delicious, clearly labelled cakes, jams, biscuits, cordials etc etc etc.  BLISS!!!!!