How many times have you been to an allotment society show, looked at the exhibits and said to yourself “mine are better than that”? This was my view for several years, until 2016 when I thought “I will put my money where my mouth” is and enter the show.
I looked at the show handbook to see what categories I could enter and was amazed to find there were 58 classes covering roses, fruit, vegetables and domestic and art. After looking at my plot and in my garden, I realised that I could enter as many as 20 classes. But what was the point when I knew that some people specialised in some classes and I would not stand a chance? I then looked at Show Rule 13 which stated that different points were given, 25 for 1st, 15 for 2nd and 10 for 3rd; there are even 3 points given for a highly commended. The trophies were awarded for the highest number of points in various classes.
SO POINTS MEAN PRIZES.
I then decided that I was unlikely to win many first prizes but stood a good chance of winning a second or third, especially if there was a small number of entries. At 25p per entry, it was not going to break the bank and who knows, this year my exhibits might be the best.
I did not do any special preparation, just prayed like everyone else that the weather would be kind at the right time and I would at least have something decent to show, although it was not the winning that was the main reason but the taking part. I would be lying if I said I did not hope to win, but I was philosophical enough to accept I might come away with nothing.
The week before the show I looked around my plot and made up my mind the classes I was going to enter.
The day before I tentatively agreed with myself what I was going to enter.
On the morning of the show I looked at the classes again to remind myself what was needed, 9 raspberries with stalks etc and picked about 20 and selected to best 9. The same with everything else paying attention to the number of fruits etc. that were required and whether they need to have stalks or leaves or with rhubarb at least 50mm of leaf and onions to be tied at the top.
In my first show I got some firsts simply because I was the only one who had entered that class – sweetcorn and sweet peppers for example.
I got a few seconds and thirds and was not placed in the more popular classes but my seconds and third gave me enough points to beat the firsts. I subsequently won the cup for the highest number of points in the Fruit Classes.
I have since won the cup for the best exhibit in vegetable classes (spring onions) and shared the cup for the best flowers.
So I’d encourage everyone to have a go. It’s fun and not as difficult to win as you might think.