Autumn Show 2026

Date and location

Sunday 13th September 2026

Ditchling Village Hall, 2-4pm

Judges

Section A: Mrs S Rawlings

Section B: Mr P Eastwood

Section C: Miss E Passmore

Section D: Mrs K Beard

Sections E & F: Ms B Lloyd

Trophies awarded at the Autumn Show:

  1. George Blackstone Trophy: Best trug of vegetables (class 31).
  2. Wheelwright Challenge Cup (Jim Blackman Award): Best basket of fruit (class 30).
  3. President’s Challenge Cup: Highest points* in Sections A & B in Autumn Show.
  4. Ralli Challenge Cup: Highest number of points* in Cookery, Handicrafts, Photography & Art sections in all 3 shows.
  5. Davy Challenge Cup: Highest number of points* in Floral Art sections, in all 3 shows.
  6. The Children’s Trophy: (6 yrs & under) Highest number of points* in all 3 shows.
  7. Margaret Buckwell Trophy: (7-11 years) Highest number of points* in all 3 shows.
  8. The Henry Waller Memorial Trophy: Most productive allotment over the year.
  9. The Buckwell Trophy: Most improved allotment over the past year.
  10. The Bicentenary Trophy: Best exhibit in show, across all sections

*First prize = 5 points, second prize = 3 points, third prize = 1 point.

Autumn Show Categories

Exhibits in Sections A & B must be grown by the exhibitor

  1. 10 raspberries with stalk
  2. 2 bunches of grapes, one variety
  3. 5 cooking apples, one variety
  4. 5 dessert apples, one variety
  5. 5 pears, dessert or cooking, one variety
  6. 6 plums or gages, any variety
  7. >3 fruit not otherwise shown in schedule, one variety
  8. 3 parsnips, one variety
  9. 5 shallots
  10. 4 coloured potatoes, one variety
  11. 4 white potatoes, one variety
  12. 4 carrots, one variety
  13. 3 sweet peppers, one variety
  14. 5 chilli peppers, one variety
  15. 3 bulbs of garlic
  16. 5 onions, yellow or white
  17. 5 red onions
  18. 5 runner beans
  19. 5 dwarf/ French or climbing beans
  20. 3 beetroots, one variety
  21. 2 cobs of sweetcorn
  22. 2 squash, one variety
  23. 2 lettuce, one variety
  24. A cabbage
  25. 3 leeks
  26. 6 tomatoes, one variety other than cherry type
  27. 9 tomatoes, cherry type
  28. A pair of cucumbers
  29. A basket of home grown fruit, to be judged for quality and effect. Basket not to exceed 45 cm/ 18 inches
  30. A trug of home grown vegetables, to be judged for quality and effect. Trug not to exceed 60 cm/ 2ft. Exhibit not to exceed 90 cm/ 3 ft. overall
  31. 3 vegetables not otherwise shown in schedule, one variety
  32. An amusing misshapen vegetable
  33. An exhibit of one flower and one vegetable
  34. A giant vegetable
  1. A vase of roses, any variety or varieties (max width 45cm/ 18 inches)
  2. 5 blooms of Dahlias, any variety to varieties
  3. 3 Hydrangea heads, any variety or varieties
  4. A vase of mixed flowers from the garden, judged for quality and variety, maximum width 60cm/ 2 ft.
  5. An Orchid in a pot, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8 inches in diameter
  6. A flowering plant in a pot, other than Geranium or Orchid, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8 inches in diameter
  7. An exhibit of flowering shrubs (max width 60cm/ 2 ft).

Flowers used in classes 46 and 47 may be bought by the exhibitor

  1. A floating flower head arrangement in a bowl of water (max width
    45cm/ 1½ ft.)
  2. An arrangement of dried flowers and seed heads (max width 75cm/2½ ft).
  3. A miniature arrangement featuring berries (max H, D and W, 10cm/ 4”)
  1. An upside down cake
  2. A selection on a dinner plate of novelty snacks for a children’s party
  3. A herb bread
  4. A jar of strawberry jam
  5. A plate of five macarons
  1. A decorated terracotta plant pot (max width 12cm)
  2. A needle felted animal
  3. A collage of colourful leaves
  4. An embroidered lavender bag
  5. A photograph of village life
  6. A painting of a sunflower
6 years and under at the time of the Autumn Show
  1. A creation made of pine cones, seeds, berries & twigs
  2. A plate of three decorated biscuits
7–11 years at the time of the Autumn Show
  1. A bug hotel (max size 30cm/1 foot)
  2. A walnut mouse

To submit an entry into the Show:

  1. Choose the classes you wish to enter.
  2. Cut out the relevant form on the back page and complete it with your details and your entries
  3. Put it in an envelope with your entry fee (20p per entry).
  4. Hand it in at Ditchling Post Office by the end of the day on the Wednesday preceding the show.

No late entries will be accepted. All shows take place in Ditchling Village Hall.

Please read ‘Guidelines For Exhibitors’ on the next page.

Exhibits must be brought to the Hall from 8.00 a.m. on the day of the show and must be staged by 9.30am. The Hall is then closed for the judging, which takes place from 10.00am

The show opens to the public at 2.00pm and closes at 4.00pm. Prizes are announced at 3.30pm, after which exhibits may be removed.

Guidelines for exhibitors
Show Rules

Entry form for the DHS Bicentenary Show 2022