RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HDCS SHOW

Levels of Exhibition are:

Novice Class: an exhibitor who is inexperienced in showing dahlias. After winning the novice section, the exhibitor has the opportunity to either advance to Intermediate class the following year, or to stay as a Novice competitor for another 2 years in order to gain more exhibition experience. Novice exhibitors may exhibit their blooms in the Novice section, Dahlias of the Year section and all Special classes.

Intermediate Class: an exhibitor who has previously won the Novice class section and wishes to advance to the next level.. They may exhibit their blooms in the intermediate class section (AA,A,B,BB), Open section for all other dahlias including miniature, ball, pompom, stellar etc. Also they may enter the Open section for Multiple Bloom classes (threes and Fives, Dahlias of the year and all special classes.

Open Class: a seasoned grower and exhibitor of dahlias who has previously won the Intermediate Class section once or several times and has gained adequate exhibition experience to compete at the highest levels. The transition from Intermediate to Open class is a mutually agreed upon decision between the exhibitor and the Show Co-Chairs based on expertise and success of exhibition. They may exhibit their blooms in all Open sections, Dahlia of the year and all Special Classes.

Design Class: all exhibits must be done in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Design Show Schedule written my Helene Selemidis-Hill. All Design classes must use chrysanthemum or dahlia blooms which will be available to the exhibitors. The Design exhibitor will be responsible for their own containers and accessories.

UNSURE OF YOUR CLASS? discuss with Co-Chairs Jim Hall and Bernie Hine.

* The Chrysanthemum classes will be judged according to N.C.S. British rules.

* All entries must be made in accordance with the current official A Classification of Dahlias handbook sponsored by the American Dahlia Society and judged accordingly.

* Dahlias not listed by the A.D.S. must be classified before being entered in the show.

* All blooms entered in competition must be grown by the exhibitor. Family and growing partners may not compete against each other, except teenagers who grow in separate plots.

* Multiple entries allowed in Chrysanthemum and Dahlia sections.

* No more than one entry in each decorative class.

* All multiple bloom entries must be staged in a single container. (except English class which may use 2 containers)

*Containers, vases and Oasis will be supplied by the Society except in the decorative section where the exhibitor will be responsible for their containers and accessories.

* All cultivars must be correctly and clearly named on the entry card. No entry will be eligible for any award if it is in violation of either rules or class specification.

* All blooms must have sufficient foliage attached to the stem above the top of the container to permit their proper evaluation. Two sets of leaves are about right for most sizes, however one set will be acceptable.

* Each bloom must be disbudded and disbranched. Fully double blooms with green or open (blown) centres will be disqualified.

* Judges may not participate in judging of their entries or those in which they have an interest. Exhibitors not participating in the judging process must leave the auditorium during judging.

* One first (red) and one second (blue) will be awarded in each class where exhibits are worthy.  No first need be given for the judges to award second. Tri-colour winners in the Dahlia classes will be selected from the first (red) winners.

* Exhibitors must show in their respective class only. (Example: Novice can not show a few blooms in Intermediate nor can an Intermediate grower show a few blooms in the Open class)

* No entry will be eligible for an award if in violation of either rules or class specification.

* The utilization of any material to support the stems above the container is strictly prohibited and will disqualify any entry.

* All blooms will become the property of the Show Committee and will be disposed of on Saturday September 16, 2023 at the closing of the show.

* The show committee reserves the right to remove from the show table, after judging, any bloom or exhibit which becomes unattractive.

* Neither the Hamilton and District Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society, its representatives nor the place where the show is held and its management shall be responsible for loss or damage to exhibits, personal property nor for injury sustained by exhibitors or visitors.

* The Show Committee reserves the right to interpret these rules and to make additional rules for the proper conduct of the show.