2025 Berkshire Honey Show Rules
RULES FOR EXHIBITORS
Please read these carefully
A separate entry form should be completed for each exhibitor detailing all of their entries. Entry forms must reach the Show Secretary no later than Monday 15th September.
Entry fees are £1 per entry payable by Debit or credit card on staging of the exhibit.
Staging: Exhibits should be taken to the Newbury Showground prior to the show during the following hours: 4pm – 7pm on Friday 19th September. We will also permit entries between 7:00-7:30am on Saturday 20th September. A Contractors Pass and directions will be emailed/sent to all exhibitors which will permit entry to the showground on Friday 19th September. The passes may be printed out or displayed on your mobile phone. Judging begins at 9am on Saturday 20th September. If you are a member outside Newbury District Beekeepers it maybe possible by separate arrangement to have a collection of your exhibits at an agreed location with your association. A member of NDBKA will collect. However it has to be clear no liability will be accepted by NDBKA for the condition it arrives although the upmost care will be taken by our collection team.
The Berkshire Honey show will cover a single ticket to enter Newbury showground for all competitors who enter 4 or more classes.
Competition Labels: These will be supplied by the show secretary on the day you exhibit and must be affixed as follows: 10 - 15 mm above the base of jars and bottles; on top of cases containing frames; on the side of the container for combs or sections; at the base of candles; on the side of wax blocks; on the plate for cakes. No other label or marking should adorn any exhibit except where specified for the class. If replacement labels are asked for these will be charged at £1 per label. No labels will be available on the two show days.
All honey and wax exhibited must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees and liquid honey should be from this year’s harvest.
The judge’s awards will be final. The committee reserves the right to withhold prize cards in case of insufficient merit or entries. All ordinary care will be taken of exhibits but the committee cannot be responsible for any loss or damage sustained.
Mead shall be exhibited in clear colourless or slightly green tinted round shouldered Bordeaux style wine bottles of 70/75cl capacity, bottles must be punted with no lettering or ornamentation. Bottles with shallow punts are acceptable. Only cork stoppers with white flanges to be used. There should be approximately 20mm from the bottom of the cork to the liquid. No alcohol to be added. The labels shall be affixed on bottles to allow between 10 and 15mm between the edge of the label and the bottom of the bottle. The label should identify dry or sweet and for the metheglin and melomel whether Dry or Sweet and which spice or fruit eg Raspberry Melomel Sweet. Sparkling Meads are not permitted in these classes.
Exhibitors may enter a maximum of 3 exhibits in a class but will not be entitled to more than one award in any one class.
Movements of exhibits. No exhibit may be touched or removed from the show bench without the permission of the Show Secretary. Exhibits may be removed after the presentation of prizes at approximately 4pm on Sunday 21st September. Competitors are responsible for the collection of their own exhibits either personally or by a named third party. You must be accompanied by a show steward. If found to be a competitor touching exhibits during the competition the judge may exclude you from the competition.
Each class requires a separate exhibit. You cannot enter the same exhibit for multiple classes.
Any matter not covered by these rules will be subject to National Honey Show rules. Please bring your entries ready for staging with the competition labels attached and any additional requirements completed.