The Next weekend has been arranged for the 7th/8th May 2022 at the Hilton Hotel, Leicester LE19 1WQ, near Junction 21 of the M1.
The full package including accommodation and food, as well as the Saturday evening dinner is included in the price of £150 per person.
Arrangements can be made for joint occupancy of rooms if this required.
There is also a DAY DELEGATE rate available @ £40 per person should you not wish to attend the whole weekend, this is to cover refreshments and other expenses.
All payments should be made no later than 25th April 2022 to allow for administration, and can be made via Cheque, payable to BCSS to above address or via Paypal @bcss.org.uk or Bank Transfer HSBC sort code 40 34 29 account 6146648.
As this is a commercial venue the normal practice of car park sales is not allowed, so tables will be available for sales (at NO COST) if you require some space please let me know, so that the appropriate allocation can be arranged. There will also be a general sales tables so all plants should have appropriate label of seller and price.
ON SATURDAY EVENING there may be an opportunity to share any presentation you wish with other participants of the weekend, if you wish to do so please let me know and I can advise accordingly, this can be done at registration.
If you have any queries or need any more information please contact Bill Darbon (william.darbon77@btinternet.com)
Eddy Harris explains what plants should have been first, second and third.
The weekend is open to all BCSS Members, from qualified judges to anyone interested in all aspects of showing and judging particularly show managers. The course/weekend includes talks on a number of subjects relating to showing and judging, which normally include lectures on specific groups of plants and interactive sessions to discuss judging issues and to share experience. Our programme in 2021 is following a new format, including plant sales, and will include talks by Derek Tribble on the Anacampseros Group, Ian Woolnough on the Pediocactus and Sclerocactus Groups and Peter Berresford speaking on the Echinocereus Group. There will also be an opportunity for experienced judges to discuss the 11th edition of the Handbook of Shows. For people who are new to the course, or who would like a refresher, there will be an introduction to showing and judging principles specifically for them. We also plan to have an interactive session about how to run a show and prepare an exhibit and how to approach some of the common problems encountered.
On Sunday we shall have a further talk in the morning, followed by classes of Cacti and Succulents staged for assessment by both the qualified and unqualified judges. The plants are set out as competitive classes (like a real show) where candidates should select their choice. Please note that participants should be able to recognize plants that are NAS (entered incorrectly according to the schedule). There are separate classes for pointing and identification, it is not required that candidates need to identify each individual plant, but marks are based on knowing to which class each example should be assigned in a real show. In 2021 the classes will be judged in accordance with the new, 11th edition of the Handbook of Shows, which will also apply to all BCSS shows from 1 January 2022 onwards.
Successful candidates should pass each section of the test to qualify for a PASS. A list of all qualified BCSS Judges is held by the Shows Committee Secretary and are available to Show Secretaries on application to the Shows Committee Secretary.
Deep in thought during the judging tests.
Searching for treasures at the car boot sale.