Summer Show 2026

Date and location

Sunday 14th June 2026

Ditchling Village Hall

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 Summer Show:

  1. Nat Catchpole Trophy: Best flowering plant in a pot (class 32).
  2. Copper Kettle: Most meritorious exhibit of fruit in the show.
  3. Macaulay Challenge Cup: Most meritorious exhibit of Sweet Peas (Class 23).
  4. Jeffery Challenge Cup: Best Rose in show, irrespective of class.
  5. Committee Challenge Cup: Best patio pot (class 36).
  6. Reg Strube Cup: Highest number of points* in the Summer Show floral art classes.
  7. Edie Catchpole Trophy: Highest number of points* in the Summer Show fruit & vegetable classes.

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

Summer Show Categories

  1. 10 raspberries, with stalks
  2. 10 gooseberries other than ‘Red Rough’, one variety,
    any colour, with stalks
  3. 10 ‘Red Rough’ gooseberries, with stalks
  4. 5 strawberries, with stalks
  5. 8 strigs (bunches) of blackcurrants
  6. 8 strigs (bunches) of red or white currants
  7. 5 fruit not otherwise shown in schedule, one variety
  8. 5 pods of broad beans
  9. 5 pods of French, climbing or dwarf beans
  10. 5 pods of peas
  11. 5 pods of mangetout or snap peas
  12. 2 lettuce, one variety
  13. Bunch of 5 carrots, with tops
  14. 3 beetroots, one variety
  15. 3 whole bulbs of garlic
  16. 5 potatoes, white or coloured, one variety
  17. 3 vegetables not otherwise shown in schedule, one variety
  18. 3 courgettes (max length 15cm/ 6”)
  19. A cabbage, any variety
  20. 5 leaves of perpetual spinach/ Swiss chard
  21. A growing culinary herb garden pot (max 30cm/12” diameter)
    1. 10 stems sweet peas, any variety
    2. 6 blooms roses, large flowered types (e.g. hybrid tea)
    3. 6 stems cluster-flowered roses (e.g. floribunda)
    4. A scented rose, to be judged for perfume
    5. A vase of annual flowers grown from seed in the preceding 12 months; 3 types of flower, 9 stems in total.
    6. A vase of mixed herbaceous perennials
    7. A single peony flower, any variety.
    8. A potted Pelargonium (Geranium) in a pot, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8” in diameter
    9. A Fuchsia in a pot, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8” in diameter
    10. A flowering plant in a pot, other than Pelargonium or Fuchsia, the pot not to exceed 20cm /8” in diameter
    11. A planted up patio pot, not to exceed 30cm /12” in diameter
    12. A recycled item used as a planter, not to exceed 30cm / 8” in diameter.
Flowers used in these classes may be bought by the exhibitor. 
  1. A dramatic centrepiece for an entrance hall (max width 75cm/2½ ft)
  2. Supermarket challenge! Create an arrangement using a cheap bunch of supermarket (or petrol station) flowers (max width 45cm/ 1½ ft.)
  3. An arrangement depicting ‘Moonlight’ (max width 75cm/2½ ft.)
  4. A petite arrangement in a small candlestick (H, D and W of whole exhibit

    between 10 cm/4 inches and 23 cm/9 inches.)

  1. A ‘garden’ themed celebration cake
  2. A lattice fruit tart
  3. ‘Tear & Share’ bread
  4. A bottle of home-made fruit cordial
  1. A smart phone cross body bag
  2. A necklace inspired by summer flowers
  3. A photograph ‘Evening Light’
  4. A painting ‘Best Pig in the sty’; in memory of a long running historic DHS class which judged the best real pig in a sty in the village!
6 years and under at the time of the Spring Show
  1. A cress head
  2. A picture of a butterfly made by sponge printing
7–11 years at the time of the Spring Show
  1. A model of ‘Best Pig in a Sty’; in memory of a long running historic DHS class which judged the best real pig in a sty in the village!
  2. A limerick about Ditchling

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