Re: SHOW: Tough judges
Wow!! First off I do not show irises but if I did I would want them judged
by what is entered in the same show. Just like a county fair, what is
entered is what is competing. Ideal standards are great for a National
title but let's judge the competition on the table in front of us. I
believe this also eliminates many a excuse. Bill
Stone's Iris Garden
Volcano, CA 3500' elevation and in full bloom if the rain lets up.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Szabo" <stevesz@erols.com>
To: <iris-talk@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 2:40 AM
Subject: RE: [iris-talk] 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//
> For tropical fish and aquariums in MA, visit:
> http://www.petsforum.com/was/
> If you are in the DC Metro area, visit:
> http://www.pvas.com
> If your interest lies in dogs, visit:
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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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