On with the Show
The summer season of shows and competitions is upon us and after two years of cancellations, it’s lovely to be back in a marquee again!
On Monday morning I was there in Tabley, Cheshire, sitting in my car reading whilst all kinds of exhibits were being taken into the marquee for staging. County Shows such as this one are serious business! Competitors have planned their entries weeks ago, working to the schedule and carefully sticking to the rules. As a judge, I was careful not to watch too closely, not that I knew anyone. Their anonymity was safe!
An hour later, I was judging the cooperative entries in a class entitled “A Special Year”. Four handmade items chosen to depict a particular year were to be staged on a 66cm diameter table in a way that they could be viewed from all round. My colleagues were judging the actual items; craft, cookery, preserves and flowers, whereas I was judging the interpretation and staging.
Whilst I took a first walk around, steward Helen was busy with her tape measure. Being fair means that we must check the sizes carefully of course. As always, I was pleased to give credit for a job well done, loved seeing how carefully each exhibit had been put together and was delighted to give credit to those groups who had staged things so professionally. The really tough bit of my job was to point out the rule which stated “Nothing should overhang the edge of the covered table or be attached to the skirt of the covering”, because otherwise, that’s a fabulous entry which looked equally good from all angles (not easy).
The Platinum Jubilee meant that there was a large number of entries with a Royal flavour. One of the tabletop exhibits depicted 1953 and the Coronation. This needlefelted corgi won the hearts of everyone who saw him - I’d say he was easily 25cm tall and so beautifully made I think the show organisers might have to keep a keen eye on him to make sure he doesn’t go walkabout!
Whilst I worked my way through Class 10, colleagues were judging all the other entries. Class 5, The Wow Factor was divided into four sections: Embroidery, Fabric craft, Yarn Craft and Hard Craft. This last section included wood and ceramics, though the majority of entries were jewellery or papercraft in some form. Once all entries had been judged, the stewards put together an attractive arrangement to show them off to best advantage.
Judging was still ongoing when I looked around and these beautiful blankets and throws were there, awaiting the results. There are some very talented people in Cheshire and I’d have liked to have been able to stay and see these fabulous pieces of work displayed, but sadly, I had a long drive home.
A quick check around to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, a brief chat with friends over a cup of tea and it was time to go. Shows like these take a huge amount of work from a team of very capable volunteers and it’s such fun to be part of the team. It was lovely to see friends I’d not seen for a couple of years and to leave feeling so very inspired.
Next Monday, I have another judging gig: RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. Love it!
