Autumn Show 2025

Date and location

Sunday 14th September 2025 | 2 – 4pm

Ditchling Village Hall

Judges

Section A: Mrs S Rawlings

Section B: Mr P Eastwood, Mr D Muller

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, 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

  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. Bowl (max diameter 15cm / 6”) of nuts, one variety
  10. 5 shallots
  11. 4 coloured potatoes, one variety
  12. 4 white potatoes, one variety
  13. 4 carrots, one variety
  14. 3 sweet peppers, one variety
  15. 5 chilli peppers, one variety
  16. 3 bulbs of garlic
  17. 5 onions, yellow or white
  18. 5 red onions
  19. 5 runner beans
  20. 5 dwarf/ French or climbing beans
  21. 3 beetroots, one variety
  22. 2 cobs of sweetcorn
  23. 2 squash, one variety
  24. 2 lettuce, one variety
  25. A cabbage
  26. 3 leeks
  27. 6 tomatoes, one variety other than cherry type
  28. 9 tomatoes, cherry type
  29. A pair of cucumbers
  30. A basket of home grown fruit, to be judged for quality and effect. Basket not to exceed 45 cm/ 18 inches
  31. 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
  32. 3 vegetables not otherwise shown in schedule, one variety
  33. An amusing misshapen vegetable
  34. An exhibit of one flower and one vegetable
  35. 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. A Geranium (Pelargonium) in a pot, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8 inches in diameter
  6. An orchid in a pot, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8 inches in diameter
  7. A flowering plant in a pot, other than Geranium or orchid, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8 inches in diameter
  8. An indoor foliage plant in a pot, pot not to exceed 20cm /8” diameter
  9. An exhibit of flowering shrubs (max width 60cm/ 2 ft).
Flowers used in classes 46 and 47 may be bought by the exhibitor
  1. An arrangement of dried flowers and/or seed heads you have grown (max width 45cm/ 1½ ft.)
  2. A bouquet for the autumn bride (max width 75cm/ 2½ ft).
  3. A miniature arrangement in a single colour(max H, D and W, 10cm/ 4”)
  1. A coffee and walnut cake
  2. Amaretti biscotti in a clear gift bag
  3. 4 pastel de nata (Portuguese egg custard tarts)
  4. A plate of 6 different gluten free party canapés
  5. A jar of chilli jam
  6. A bottle of Christmas inspired alcoholic drink
  1. A carved pumpkin or squash
  2. A pressed flower picture
  3. An appliqué item
  4. A miniature garden (max width 30cm / 1 ft)
  5. A photograph of plants as abstract art
  6. A design for a bird bath

6 years and under at the time of the Autumn Show

  1. An owl made of leaves
  2. A plasticine flower

7–11 years at the time of the Autumn Show

  1. A painting of a hedgehog
  2. A flower mandala

To submit an entry into the Show:

Choose the classes you wish to enter from the membership Show Schedule booklet. Entries are open to all DHS members, who can enter any number of classes.

Fee = 20p per entry

  1. Cut out one of the forms from the last page of your Show Schedule booklet 
  2. Complete it with your name and address and the details of your entries
  3. Put it in an envelope with your entry fee.
  4. Hand it in at Ditchling Post Office no later than 5 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the show. Late entries will not be accepted.
Guidelines for exhibitors
Show Rules

Entry form for the DHS Bicentenary Show 2022