RE: SHOW: Tough judges

I've been following this discussion with some interest, not because it
concerns iris, but because it concerns judging.  I grow iris for fun.  I do
not belong to an iris club or society of any kind.  However, I am serious
about aquarium fish.  In fact, I am a judge of such fish.

Recently, I had some off list exchanges with a fellow local to me, Griff,
and he explained iris judging just as I would describe fish judging.  With
fish, we judge for the ideal of the species or variety, and what that ideal
is comes from the literature and experience with fish.  According to Griff,
it is the same with iris--the ideal of the species or variety, which, I
would presume also comes from the literature in the field and experience.

One thing that is not mentioned by any of the participants here, or by
Griff, is what role the show committee has in setting the judging rules for
the particular show.  Unlike the Iris people, fish people do not have a
national or international governing body for general interest.  There are,
however, specialty groups that can, and do, set their own rules for judging
the species and varieties they cover.  As a general rule, judges are
familiar with those judging standards and do apply them when judging,
though, perhaps, not as stiffly as if it were at a show governed by those
bodies.  The local show committees, however, have wide latitude in setting
the standards of the show.  This means that clubs are not left holding blue
ribbons when there are entries in that class, whether or not there are any
fish in the class that actually deserve the blue.  And so it goes.

Now, as a judge, I always do try to find something good to say about a fish,
no matter how badly marked down it gets for whatever.  Believe me, this is
sometimes hard to do.  Other than looking at the fish, we must also look at
the presentation, and it is allowed, in most shows, to knock fish down that
are not shown properly.  This could mean that the display tank does not meet
the standards proscribe in the show rules, to the water condition.  Good
fish have been knocked down in the ranking because of poor presentation.  A
100 point fish, may become a 94 point fish due to the lack of care in
setting up the tank or lack of preparation for the show (i.e. feces in the
tank fouling the water due to feeding too close to show time).

If the local iris societies have this kind of latitude in setting show
rules, the judges should be made aware of them in the judge's briefing prior
to judging, or even sooner, when the show rules are sent to the judges in
preparation for the event.  Any disputes are always handled by the show
committee.  Any needed literature should be made available by the show
committee to the judges, and this may include, but not be limited to the
information provided by the entrant about a rare species or variety they may
be entering in the show.  I don't know (again) about how it goes in iris
circles, but us fish judges are not too proud to ask for help when coming
across a species or variety we are not familiar with in a class we may be
judging.

While I do favor the strict approach that seems to rankle some here, it is
not always possible to take that approach.  If it is within the scope of the
show committees of your local society to bend the rules a bit, it can, and,
perhaps, should be done so that interest is fostered in the hobby and
participants are encouraged to try again in another society's show or in
your own next show.  After all, it is participation we are all looking for
with these events, though some entrants may not see it that way, and want a
room full of ribbons and trophies.  Recognition in any way, however, is a
powerful motivator.

\\Steve//
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-----Original Message-----
From: Dana Brown [d*@llano.net]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2000 10:13 PM
To: iris-talk@egroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-talk] SHOW: Tough judges


	Bravo, Vince!! I agree with you.  After all they are
called iris SHOWS.  If it is not a GOOD stalk of Iris
XYZ and if you are not willing to clean it up and
present it then leave it at home in the garden.  I
have been judging a little longer than you have and
consider myself an above average exhibitor.  Out of 13
shows we have won 3 Queen's, 7 Silvers and 5
Bronze's.  So, I speak not only as a judge but as an
exhibitor.
	I have yet to judge a show where the judges chairman
did not tell of some malady, not to say there wasn't
one just that there always is one.<G>  I judge the way
I expect to be judged.  If I would wipe it off, trim
it off, remove it, clean it, or block it then I expect
the exhibitor to do the same.  I think if more judges
would judge a show the way they want their own iris to
be judged then this problem would go away.  There are
judges out there who seem to feel that being
ultra-critical demonstrates their knowledge.  I prefer
to demonstrate my compassion and when in doubt give
the exhibitor the benefit of that doubt.  Hopefully,
this will encourage them and others to show more.
	One final thing.  Just out of curiosity, how can a
judge tell an inexperienced exhibitor from an
experienced one that got in a hurry or just got lazy?
I have seen GOOD judges enter iris I wouldn't have cut
for display.  So how do you tell??

--
d*@llano.net
Dana Brown
Pres. South Plains Iris Society
Lubbock, TX  USA  79401
Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset

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