FIRSTLY many shows are judged quite successfully by people who are not National Dahlia Society qualified judges. These include county federation judges who attend non specialist societies and judge dahlias, chrysanthemums, other flowers, fruit and vegetables etc., and in so doing provide a much needed service. Then there are dahlia societies that run their own examinations. I believe that the Scottish National Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society have provided this service and others like the Essex Dahlia Society have held such tests. They hold a list of people who have passed and local groups apply for these names to judge the dahlia sections at their shows.
This system has proved to be very successful and I am sure this is one of the reasons that the county of Essex has the highest number of National Dahlia Society qualified judges in the current classified directory. The growing of dahlias like many other flowers usually commences with a local enthusiast who assists the beginner to grow dahlias to an exhibition standard, this is often followed by the urge to become a dahlia judge. Some go for this challenge in a big way and take the National Dahlia Society judging examination straight away, sometimes this is taken with little preparation and experience.
I spent a few years on the National Dahlia Society judging
committee and witnessed some very good passes and unfortunately
quite a few failures. So, what can be done to assist in this area?
I hope this article will be of some help to those people embarking
on the judging trail.
First of all it is vital to understand the judging rules and requirements
set out in the current rules for judging. When you think
about that statement it is clear that most exhibitors must understand
them clearly to exhibit their blooms correctly and these rules
are a must for both exhibitor and judge alike, otherxvise what
would be the point of entering an exhibit to be judged if it is
not known what the judges are looking for within the rules. The
next set of requirements to understand for both exhibitor and
judge is sometimes a difficult area, this is the show schedule
and accompanying show regulations or rules.
The Show Schedule.
This can cause many problems for the judge, therefore I suggest
that before attending the engagement they should read the schedule
very carefully. I am sure that some societies do not realise the
minefields that can occur from a badly worded schedule. Here are
a few examples I have encountered over the years. The and/or problem
for instance, small cactus/semi-cactus, three varieties three
blooms of each variety in one vase. This could be interpreted
as three vases of small cactus OR three vases of small semi-cactus
but not different classifications. Clearly ~and/or” indicates
the requirements. Some schedules would read, three vases of small
cactus/semi-cactus, three blooms per vase clearly allowing for
nine blooms to be staged in any order.
Another class called for three medium decoratives and three cactus/semi-cactus blooms in two vases each variety in one vase. Three medium decoratives are clear, but what about the cactus/semi-cactus requirement? Does it require medium cactus/semi-cactus or any type of cactus/semi—cactus? Your guess is as good as mine! I am sure the committee that wrote the schedule understood what they meant but does the exhibitor and the judge know.. I doubt it very much. Then there is the question of whether the schedule wording should read --varieties or distinct varieties”. These are just a few examples encountered by judges and exhibitors but it could be the difference between winning and losing on the interpretation of the schedule wording.
Judging Shows.
I believe that judges should take every opportunity at the beginning
of a new season to refresh their memories on the rules for judging
and judge as many evening shows and instructional evenings to
help renew their skills for the coming season. The instructional
evening shows certainly help new exhibitors and prospective judges
to understand the decisions arrived at and also to ask questions
while the judging is in progress. I remember one such evening
when I arrived the show secretary said “Good evening, we
have put up ten N A S. for you to find and explain to our members”...those
dreaded words! Luckily I found all of them. The opening paragraph
in the National Dahlia Society rules for judging states The judging
of dahlias is not and cannot be an exact science and so, as a
decision must often rest on the judges personal knowledge and
experiences.” I believe the last section of this statement
is very pertinent in decisions made by a judge. The rules for
judging gives a guide to what is required in coming to a decision
but the application of these rules is often where the problems
occur.
Some rules are very clear cut however. 1. Oversize blooms. 2. Artificial support above the vase. 3. Incorrect number of blooms in an exhibit. 4. Classified blooms exhibited in the wrong class. All these disqualify the entry (N.A.S.). When judging a class, whether a single vase or a multi vase class, the first thing a judge must do is check in conjunction with the schedule whether there are any N.A.S. that may debar an award.
Oversize blooms. To be fair to all entries in the class under review I always apply the National Dahlia Society approved rings across the class after first ascertaining that the requirements of the show schedule are met, e.g. correct type, classification and number of blooms are exhibited, also no artificial supports are in evidence. Ringing the blooms of the complete class first is being fair to all exhibitors as in a well supported class it could be some time before the last vase is checked for oversize. In the days when Pompons were the only section subjected to size regulations, many judges assessed this class first as they were usually the last class in the schedule and could have gone oversize by the time they were judged. I am aware that some judges prefer now to ring all the classes for size before starting to assess the entries, this also has the added advantage to see the overall standard of the show to be judged. Not all shows are of the highest standard of entries, but it is very important to understand that the exhibitors are as keen at this level of competition as are the top exhibitors.
Marking the entry cards.
Any N.A.S. should be entered clearly on the exhibitors card to
indicate the faults found. When no card was displayed by an exhibitor,
I asked one particular show secretary his ruling and he answered
“No card no judging”. Others have asked me to carry
on with the next class while the problem is resolved. This year
I attended a show where no card was displayed but after an investigation
by an official I was informed that all entries in the class had
been staged and entry cards correctly placed, so there appeared
to be one phantom three vase entry put in among a class of twelve
entries. A difficult situation would have developed if this entry
had won an award.
Selecting the winners.
Some method must be adopted whether taking the judging examination
or judging at a show Clearly the first stage has taken place with
the elimination of the NA S. exhibits, for missing such a fault
at an examination or a show is difJicidt to explain, especially
to an irate exhibitor. Once this task has been correctly completed
then the following awards are only the opinion of the judge or
judges. The ideals are clearly laid out as are the faults in blooms
from the very serious to faults of a lesser degree which is usually
the area of most disagreement by exhibitors and sometimes otherjudges.
Remarks such as "I 've seen better exhibit's of that variety"
do not go down well as the judges are appointed to judge the classes
at the show. Also "I don ‘t like the colour of that
variety" before assessing the serious faults. Referring
back to the general rules for judging, the section says “Take
care (the judges) your decisions are not swayed by personal dislikes
or preferences, whether for cultivars, colours, formation or for
any other reason”. When the judge comes to make a decision
of first, second and third, the schedule and show regulations
indicate information such as if the exhibits are considered unworthy.
the judge can withhold any award at his/ her discretion. Some
exhibitors maintain that a first prize should always be awarded
which is an area of some disagreement but in the end it is up
to the poor old judge to make the final decision
Judging the unclassified varieties.
Oversize in the class displayed will be marked N.A.S. after that
the judge becomes a classification expert. For instance, an unclassified
small ball formation shown in the small decorative class, the
judge needs to decide by how much does the bloom not conform to
the class in which it is shown. With todays varieties this has
become a recurring problem but the judge must come to a decision.
This situation also happens in the small semi-cactus and cactus
classes. One evening show I judged a cheeky exhibitor entered
an unclassified pom in the single giant decorative class and asked
why he was not awarded a prize!.. .Nice one!. The variations of
the unclassified problem will always be a difficult area for all
judges.
Judging of seedling classes.
Some of the specialist dahlia societies have a number of seedling
classes in their schedules. Very often varieties destined to be
shown at National Shows are given a “try out”. The wording
in the judging rules states the requirements for judging seedlings
including entries that are considered to be an improvement on
established cultivars of similar formation or colour shall be
considered meritorious. Again the schedules will state the class
requirements whether to use for exhibition or garden merit. Some
schedules combine seedling and sport classes for assessment. The
main point to remember, the guide lines include the statement
that the quality of blooms as defined in the general instructions
remain the chief consideration. I am not sure whether a garden
merit exhibit can be properly assessed on the bench, the variety
could be very tall, late flowering etc., not what I would consider
suitable for garden use.
Special Awards.
Another problem area in some cases. I believe that these awards
can only be given when the special awards are being judged. not
as they were when originally judged. Here is a case in point.
A few years ago together with other judges I was engaged to officiate
at the Risca miners show to judge the three vases of cactus and/or
semi-cactus class. The first placed exhibit was an easy winner
with fifteen blooms of Klankstad Kerkrade, a credit to the exhibitor.
Having completed our judging all teams assembled as usual to consider
the special awards. Firstly the National Dahlia Society Silver
Medal, under the terms of purchase must be awarded to the Best
Exhibit in Show. \Ve put forward the entry of K.K. All the judges
looked at our suggestion only to unfortunately find that two of
the vases had shattered with petals all around on the bench. Therefore
alas this entry could not be considered for an award. This was
very hard luck indeed and I am sure otherjudges had met similar
situations. Can a second placed exhibit be awarded the silver
medal? Yes, under an unusual situation. Take the case of the vases
of K.K. supposing the second placed exhibit in this class was
still considered to be the remaining Best Exhibit for consideration,
it could win the Silver Medal. I imagine it would create some
different interpretations of such an award!
The Bronze Medal can be awarded as required by the relevant society e.g. second Best Exhibit in show, Best Exhibit in member class, Best Exhibit in novice class etc. So, it is really a straight forward process, but remember the National Dahlia Society Bronze Medal for second best exhibit could also go to the entry placed second to the exhibit in the same class winning the Silver Medal. This has occurred quite a few times around this area, especially where the Silver medal has been awarded to the championship class and the second placed exhibit in the opinion of the judges is better than any other entry in the show. Ascertain that the other Bronze Medal awards are within the requirements of the schedule e.g. best in members section etc. Most Points awards are the responsibility of the appropriate show secretary.
Multi vase evaluation.
I am not covering this wide subject in this article, but I can
remember during the early days of its innovation I was at a show
where three judges evaluating the championship class finished
up with three equal markings out of seven entries. When asked
for advice I simply queried "Would you have three first places
if you had not evaluated this class?" There was a unanimous
“NO” and so repointing was carried out and I believe
the correct placing was made.
Protests.
Most societies hope and pray this will not occur at their show
and nearly all schedules cover the requirements in the event of
a protest. I am sure a few have set up such a procedure to deal
with the problem should any protest arise. But surely only queries
covering a technical point should be entertained in the initial
stages. Protests such as “I was not awarded a first prize..
My vase was under evaluated” etc., should be rejected as
they are only exhibitors opinions. Protests such as “I have
come second to an NA S. exhibit”..” I have not been
awarded the most points cup due to an oversight” (this is
not a judging matter) should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Summing up.
What ever the level of show, the exhibitors should receive a fair
assessment of their entries. Probably the most important decision
made by the society is selecting someone to judge their show,
however it is impossible to satisfy every exhibitor. You win some,
you lose some, seents to reflect most seasons. Remember the judge
is only trying to do his/her best. Ours is a really great hobby,
meant to be enjoyed. The best of luck to you all for the coming
season.