MedusA Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm really chuffed because I won another novice class First prize at this year's Branch Honey Show. OH says I must be doing something right then. DD says I now need to have a go up against the big boys and girls. On the other hand my honey cake looked like a congealed volcano. Still tastes nice though. I got to act as steward for the judge this year. The process of judging is fascinating and I felt honoured to be doing it. I don't think serious competition is for me though. There is too much to think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Way to go - well done you Did you get a rosette or card, or is it just the glory!! Now for the dim question - how can you be a novice twice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Well done What did you win with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Well done! It's our show this weekend, I haven't planned to enter. Daphne - if it's anything like ours, 'beginner' or 'novice' means you only started keeping bees in the last three years, so you can have more than one year as a novice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 16, 2011 Share Posted September 16, 2011 Well done Did you get any photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Yes. Olly's right. Our branch qualifies you as a "novice" if you haven't won more that 3 Firsts at any honey show. This was my second win in the novice honey class. I am entering the novice honey, novice wax block and honey cake at the Warwickshire County Honey Show this Saturday at Hatton Country World. I won 50p prize money, a First Prize certificate, and a ticket for 2 to the National Honey Show. I won't be able to go though as I'm already booked that weekend. Edited to add pics: Prize winning honey And my "congealed volcano" of a honey cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Looks good Good luck at Hatton! Wonder if they still have the Guinea Pig village? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Thanks for explaining! Good Luck at County Level, you must be getting to be a real expert now. The only things I can remember being told are clear honey, no bubbles, no swirly scummy looking bits Now, another novice question - I see the 1st prize cards are red, like in poultry showing. Does anyone know if all competitions (eg veg/flower/livestock etc) use red cards for 1st? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 Does anyone know if all competitions (eg veg/flower/livestock etc) use red cards for 1st? I'm pretty sure veg and flower shows use the same colour code, Daphne. Not sure about livestock though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 Update, following the County Honey Show: My cake was a disaster. A bit undercooked so naturally didn't get anything. My rather rubbish wax block got a Very Highly Commended in the novice wax class. My honey (which won First in the Novice Honey at the Branch Show) got 2nd Prize! Really chuffed about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I'm really impressed! The competition in our association is so fierce I'm too afraid to enter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 I'm really impressed! The competition in our association is so fierce I'm too afraid to enter! Which is why I have to do it for you... (won the novice cup last year ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 Well done Kermit We seem to be reasonably good at this sort of thing don't we, given there aren't many of us omlet beeks! I'm afraid I fall into the lazy camp rather than the scared camp, possibly next year.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaches Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I think I need to blow the trumpet for OH (Kermit) as he entered 7 classes in our honey show last night and won something in 6! He got 1 x 1st for dark/medium honey; 1 x 1st for chunk honey; 1 x 2nd for 6 pieces of beeswax; 1 x 3rd for plain cake beeswax; 1 x 3rd photography; 1 x 3rd for any other item - a clear board he built. I will post some pictures, but are very happy in this household. We have prize-winning honey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Or you could say you've got a prize winning honey Well done Kermit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Here are the photos I entered and got a 3rd with. The winner's photo was of a bee attacking a wasp - absolutely stunning The other entries are here (apart from the honey cake, which has been eaten) In the background is my vortex clearer board. Lots quicker than a crown board and porter bee escapes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 The winning photo must have been very good indeed Love the wax - its all part of the autumn 'hoarding' instinct isn't it, storing things for the rest of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Great photos. I'm intrigued by the 'vortex' clearer board, too! Did you make that or is it a commercial one - never seen one like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 The clearer board is from a basic design on the Dave Cushman site. It's simple to make and is just a crown board with a deep lower rim and the 'maze'. Have a look at http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/vortexescape.html. Works very well - much better than Porter bee escapes. It can also be adapted to any size hive by simply changing the external dimensions of the board. Cheap too. Get a big sheet of thin ply and ask the wood yard to cut it into strips the width of a hive. Then chop this at home to make crown board sized pieces. Then either make crown boards or clearer boards. You'll get quite a few from one sheet (you could even sell the spares). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
