THE 2024 SUMMER SHOW
Old Mill Hall, Grove. Saturday 7th September. Open to the public at 2.00 pm.
Division A - FLOWERS
Class
1. The Top Vase – (see separate rules in schedule)
2. One stem of any variety of Rose – to be judged for perfume by the public (not included in the points tally).
3. A Rose – one specimen bloom.
4. One vase of 3 blooms of Roses - any variety or varieties.
5. One stem of multi-headed roses.
6. A container of mixed roses, 5 plus stems to be judged for quality and all round effect.
7. One vase of 5 stems of Asters - any variety or colour.
8. One vase of 5 stems of Marigolds - any variety or colour.
9. One stem of single or multi-headed sunflower
10. One vase of 5 stems of Sweet Peas
11. One vase of 3 stems of Salvias
12. 3 vases of Garden Flowers - 3 stems in each vase, 3 kinds (including flowering shrubs and climbers such as Honeysuckle and Clematis).
13. One vase of Annual Flowers - 9 stems of three or more kinds.
14. One vase of 3 blooms of Dahlias, any variety up to 170mm diameter per bloom
15. One vase of 3 blooms of Dahlias, Pom-Pom or Ball up to 115mm (4.5”) diameter per bloom.
16. One vase of 3 blooms of Dahlias, Small or Miniature Decorative up to 170mm (6.7”) diameter per bloom.
17. One vase of 3 blooms of Dahlias, Decorative, up to 220mm (8.7”) diameter per bloom.
18. One vase of 3 blooms of Dahlias, Cactus/Semi Cactus up to 220mm (8.7”) diameter per bloom.
Division B - POT PLANTS
N.B. All containers for classes 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23 must be no larger than 254mm (10”) from side to side
Class
19. One Fuchsia in a container.
20. One Geranium or Pelargonium in a container.
21. One pot plant in bloom.
22. One pot plant – foliage.
23. One pot plant – Cacti or Succulent.
24. A collection of three pot plants. Max size of each pot: 150mm / 6” diameter.
Division C - VEGETABLES & FRUIT
Class
25. Top Tray – see separate rules in schedule.
26. 4 Potatoes (one variety).
27. 3 Courgettes (uniform, tender, similar length)
28. 4 Onions grown from sets. (Onion tops may be tied using raffia or string)
29. 7 Shallots.
30. 6 Runner Beans.
31. 6 Dwarf (French) Beans.
32. 3 Carrots, any variety, (foliage trimmed back to approx. 75mm / 3”).
33. 3 Beetroot, trimmed, (foliage trimmed back to approx. 75mm / 3”).
34. 3 Parsnips (uniform, clear-skinned)
35. 1 Cabbage - any variety.
36. 1 Cucumber.
37. 1 Marrow for table use, max length 355 mm (14 inches).
38. 6 Cherry Tomatoes, any colour or variety.
39. 4 Tomatoes, not cherry, any colour or variety.
40. Any other single vegetable not already in schedule.
41. A tray of 4 different salad items; 305 x 305mm (1 ft. sq.).
42. A collection of 3 culinary herbs; 3 pots or one container no larger than 305 x 305 mm (1 ft. sq. allowed).
43. 4 stems of Rhubarb,(leaf blades trimmed back to approx. 75mm, bases ‘as pulled’
and with stems tied together).
44. One dish of 4 Cooking Apples.
45. One dish of 4 Dessert Apples.
46. One dish of any other fruit.
47. A display of mixed vegetables in a tray or basket (not to exceed 600mm x 600mm base
(2ft. sq.)
Novelty Vegetables: (subsection of Division c)
Class
48. The longest Runner Bean.
49. The heaviest Marrow.
50. The longest Carrot.
Division D -FLOWER-ARRANGING
Materials may be purchased for classes 51 & 52
Class
51. A Table Centrepiece - no longer than 450mm (18'') accessories may be used, but the majority
should be plant material. Should look good from all sides and from above.
52. 'Holiday Memories' . An arrangement using plant material and accessories to depict a holiday,
e.g. beach or woodland walk theme or exotic flowers for a foreign holiday.
Not to exceed 600 x 600mm (2 ft. sq. ) base.
Division E - BAKING AND PRESERVES
N.B. All Cookery must be covered with cling film
Class
53. Plaited Bread Loaf - 3 plaits (not made in a breadmaker machine).
54. Fruit Cake. (See recipe on this website).
55. Carrot Cake. (See recipe on this website).
56. Chocolate Cake. (See recipe on this website).
57. A Traditional Swiss Roll. (own recipe).
58. 5 Florentines. Maximum diameter 60mm. (own recipe).
59. 5 Savoury Scones. (own recipe).
60. 5 Chocolate Brownies (own recipe).
61. 1 Quiche (no larger than 245mm /10” diameter).
62. A jar of homemade Jam, soft fruit or stoned fruit.
63. A jar of Relish with screw lid, labelled with date.
64. A jar of Chutney labelled with date, at least 8 weeks old.
Division F - CRAFTS
Class
65. A Knitted Item.
66. Homemade item of Pottery.
67. An embroidered item.
68. An Item of Cross-Stitch.
69. A piece of any other Handicraft.
Division G - PHOTOGRAPHY
NB. Print size must be no larger than 15cm x 20cm (6” x 8”
Class
70. Contrasting Flowers.
71. A Close-up of an insect.
72. A Moonlit Scene.
73. 'A Grand Entrance'.
Division H - CHILDRENS' CATEGORIES (Up to 16 years old)
Class
74. A Cress head character - cress grown in an eggshell (state entrant's age).
75. 3 Decorated Cup Cakes (state entrant's age).
How To Enter The Show for Divisions A to H
1. Download and print a form, or complete a paper copy, in the brochures available at Grove Library, Wantage Library or The Vale and Downland Museum. NB that 'The Best Allotment Produce' Trophy has a separate entry slip - see Division I: Class 76
2. Entry forms must be with Debbie Watson by 9.30pm on the Monday night before the Show (2nd Sept). The address is on the entry form.
Late entries are dealt with entirely at the Show Secretary’s discretion.
3. The Hall will be open at 8.00am on the morning of the show but you must leave by 10.30am when the judges arrive – so make sure you leave yourself enough time for setting up. Please ensure all baking is covered with cling film.
4. Awarding of the trophies followed by the raffle will commence at 3.30pm.
The Summer Show Trophies
The Dixon Cup - for the most points in the Horticultural Classes
The Jean Torbit Cup - for the most points in the Flower classes
The F & A Millar Cup - for most points in the Pot Plants classes
The Buckland Challenge Cup - for most points in the Vegetable classes
The Wantage Gardeners Cottagers Cup - for the Floral Art classes
The Dr & Mrs Seward Cup - for most points in show won by a Grove resident
The Silver Rose Bowl - for the most points in the Domestic classes
The GHS Cup - for the most points in Crafts
The Vic Knight Trophy - for the most points in the Photography classes
The B A Collins Cup - for the Top Vase winner
The Barry Phillips Trophy - for the Top Tray winner
The RHS Banksian Medal - Awarded to the exhibitor obtaining the highest total value in points for horticultural exhibits that has NOT received a Banksian Medal in the previous two years. This medal is supplied by the RHS and is kept by the winner.
The President’s Cup - Awarded to the exhibitor obtaining the highest combined total of points from the Spring and Summer Shows.
IMPORTANT NOTES for the Summer Show, FOR EXHIBITORS AND JUDGES
1. Flowering stems can be taken from any flowering plant. If different kinds of plants are required, these need to be taken from different genres of plants. N.B. pinks, carnations and Sweet Williams are all in the ‘dianthus family’ and therefore they are not classed as different kinds.
2. Judges should note that the display has to be viewed from all around.
3. All root vegetables (such as Carrots and Parsnips) must have foliage trimmed back to approximately 75mm (3”).
4. Peas and beans must be displayed with some stalk attached.
5. Tomatoes must be displayed with calyces (the green flower bud case).
6. The tray board or staging must not be cut or mutilated in any way at all - such as cutting holes in which to stand onions.
TOP TRAY RULES
The Top Tray class is for a collection of three types of vegetables taken from the following list of eight. The quantity of each vegetable is given in brackets and each type must consist of the same variety: carrots (3), cauliflowers (2),onions (3), parsnips (3), peas (6 pods), potatoes (3), runner beans (6) tomatoes (6).
Each type of vegetable will be judged out of a total of 20 points. 7 points for condition, 7 points for size shape and colour, 6 points for uniformity. The overall mark will therefore be out of a total of 60.
All vegetables are to be displayed for effect. The vegetables must be displayed within an area measuring 450 x 600 mm (18” x 24”) without bending any of them. No part of any exhibit may exceed the size of the tray.
Where a tray or board is used, the internal measurements must not exceed the above measurements. Otherwise the area can be simply marked on the staging.
A black cloth is permitted and the tray may be painted. Parsley is allowed for garnishing, but no other foliage or accessories, such as plates, sand rings etc.
Onion tops may be tied or whipped using raffia or string.
The winner of the Top Tray Class will receive the Barry Phillips Trophy.
TOP VASE RULES
The Top Vase Class is for a vase of mixed flowering stems containing a total of between five and ten stems, taken from a minimum of two different kinds of plants – i.e. not two varieties of the same plant.
Only fresh home-grown flowers can be used in the vase. No seed heads or berries will be allowed.
The display will be judged out of a total of 35 points: 25 for the colour, form, condition, quality and freshness of the flowers, and 10 for the overall presentation and effect. The vase will be viewed from all directions. Judging of the flowers will be as the rules for the other flower classes.
The vase can be of any size, shape or material but should be in proportion to the display. No marks are awarded for the vase itself.
No accessories whatsoever will be allowed. Only foliage that is growing naturally from and still attached to the stem will be allowed. Packing material to keep the stems in place is allowed.
The winner of the Top Vase Class will receive the B.A. Collins Cup.