NORA Plot Competitions
These have been run over the past couple of years, in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Due to their success Notice is Given that this fun competition will be held again in 2020 along with the Annual Plot inspection. For Judging Criteria details - see below.
Judging Criteria 2020
The Judging criteria used will be much the same as in previous years, and based upon advice from various Judges who tell us that allotments are primarily for the growing of produce for the family, and therefore should contain a variety of crops to satisfy the home and table. That is not to say that plots with a limited number of crops are not valid or beautiful, but for the purposes of this competition will be marked accordingly.
Criteria for plot competition will cover five principal areas:-
Variety of crops / Sustainablity / Maintenance / Crop rotation / Greenhouses / Polytunnels / and (new for 2020) Ponds, where these various structures are present.
JUDGING 2020
Judging Criteria for 2020 have yet to be specified but are likely to be very similar to last year, with the exception of the new Class for Ponds, where we have our own local Judge who will be specifying these in the near future. All criteria will be published here as soon as they are settled.
Meanwhile start preparing - Judging dates have yet to be set, but late July is looking to be likely.
RESULTS - 2020
I am delighted to announce the results of this year’s competition, which has taken on a bit of a different shape, due in part to Covid, but also to our new Judge, and the inclusion of a totally new class for Ponds. For the full set of results please follow the link below to them in .pdf format.
Well done everybody. I am hoping that we may be able to arrange an Awards Ceremony and Prize Giving on the site sometime in the
near future – Covid Social Distancing permitting. I have in mind early August, and will advise further as soon as I can arrange something.
NORA Annual Competition Results July 2020.pdf
JUDGING 2019
For full details please see Judging Criteria 2019
Is now (28th July) complete and the results being collated. Winners and Runner-Ups being determined.
Planning is in-hand for a Prize Giving ceremony at which the results will be announced. The hoped for date for this is during 6th - 8th August. An email announcing this will be issued ASAP.
PRIZE GIVING 2019
Was held in sunshine on Tuesday 6th August at 6:00 pm, when we were honoured by having Andy Stafford, one of our local Councillors hand out the prizes.
I very much appreciated seeing all who turned out for this annual event, some were duly rewarded, and all much appreciated the support & applause of their fellow Plotees.
Some photos were take - by that eminent photographer Robert Evans, some of which will be published here shortly. they publish.
The prizes of Allotment Shop Vouchers of £10.00 and £5.00 were duly awarded to the Winner, and Runner-up in each category, with Meritorious '3rd places' getting a Mention In Despatches. In many cases only One Point separated the placings, which gave our Judge a hard task, and a very enjoyable time reaching his decisions.
Results 2019
Best Full Plot
- Winner Margaret Jones
- Runner-up Janet & John Sturt
- Highly Commended - Yana Baystryuchenko / Terry Davies / Tina Knight
Best Half-plot
- Winner Joan Tanner
- Runner-up Lucia Hunt
- Highly Commended Peter Fellowes (twice) / Lee Harris (2b) / Mark Cooper / Geoff Webb / Daphne Austin
Best Newcomer
- Winner Mark Cooper (Could have been Yana but she won it last year, and it can only be won once)
- Runner-up Lee Harris (2b)
- Highly Commended Daphne Austin / Mark Parkinson
Best Polytunnel / Greenhouse
- Winner Yana Baystyuchenko (Judges comment: One of the best I have seen)
- Runner-up Baz Stennett
- Highly Commended Lee Harris / Karen Thorp.
Judges Choice
- Mark & Tess Cooper for their amazing turn around of P-3a from a Jungle to an extremely well developed & productive Plot.
Thank You one and all for your efforts during the year and for making the whole site such a pleasant place to be, and to have an allotment..
2018 - RESULTS
Prize Giving - Saturday 14th July 2014
Our Prize Giving event went off well, with Thanks to Warwick Neale, WCC, who delivered a few welcome words of congratulation and support.
Some Photos:- NORA Prize Giving Photos July 2018.pdf
Also Thanks to Jacek - The Judge from King's Heath, Birmingham to present the Prizes and Awards. After a few encouraging words, and a brief explanation of judging criteria used, and how he arrived at his decisions, the following Prizes and Awards were presented:-
Full-Plot
1st Certificate and £5.00 Voucher for the Allotment Shop - Margaret Jones P-25
2nd Certificate - Janet & John Sturt P-26 / 3rd Certificate - David Bayfield P-42
Highly Commended - Kerrie Minnagh / Geoff Knighton / Jan Millward / Hazel Lawrence / Alexander Howard / Kirsten Rowan / Iris Crittenden / Karen Thorp.
Half-Plot
1st Certificate and £5.00 Voucher for the Allotment Shop - Lee Harris P-2a
2nd Certificate - Joan Tanner P-67a / 3rd Certificate - Baz Stennett P-36b
Highly Commended - Lan & Natalie Kemp / Paul Naughton / Bill Lawrence / Mick Jones / Mark & Mandy Underhill / Peter Fellowes / Stephen Graystone.
New Plotholders (Since 1st Jan 2017)
1st Certificate and £5.00 Voucher for the Allotment Shop - Yana Baystryuchenko P-12
2nd Certificate - Geoff Webb P-56b / 3rd Certificate - Peter Fellowes P-45b
Highly Commended - Mick Jones / Chris Thorp
Ploytunnel / Greenhouse
1st Certificate and £5.00 Voucher for the Allotment Shop - Lee Harris P-2a
2nd Certificate - Matteo Basile P-27 / 3rd Certificate - Peter Fellowes P-45b
Highly Commended - Baz Stennett / Chris Thorp / Karen Thorp
In summary a very gratifying 30+ Plots gained either:-
1st Place - An Allotment Shop Voucher & Certificate
2nd & 3rd Places - A Certificate
Highly Commended - A mention in dispatches.
Where decisions were tight a Highly Commended category was included to recognise the good standards of your work and care.
The Judge advised that the task had been really tough this year as "there were so many super plots – far more than last year, and I met so many lovely hard working people that I could {hardly} distinguish any one above all others." - "This is a warm and dedicated allotment community. It was a pleasure to be a part of it for just a short while."
2017
NORA Plot Competition - Judgment Day 24 May 2017.
Wednesday 24th May-17 A friendly 'judge' came to visit us from Birmingham, and very generously gave us a full day of his time out in the open under the sun, getting well cooked as he toured every plot on out site making an independent assessment of our plots. He then provided his list of those he felt worthy of recognition in each of the competition Classes:
Jacek's task as our Judge was quite taxing as there were so many worthy plots to be considered. Unfortunately not all could be winners - but there was still the opportunity to become one in the Worcester City Allotments Forum Competition in June.
Congratulations to the Winners, who were:-
BEST FULL PLOT:
1st - Margaret Jones, P-25
2nd - Dave Bayfield, P-42 / 3rd - John MacCammont, P-39
BEST HALF PLOT:
1st- William (Bill) Lawrence, P-17a
2nd - Mike Kilmartin, P10a / 3rd - Paul Naughton, P-11b
BEST NEW PLOTHOLDER’S PLOT:
1st - Lee Harris, P-02a
2nd - Mick Jones,P-19a / 3rd Lucia Hunt, P-48a.
BEST POLYTUNNEL / GREENHOUSE:
1st - Baz Stennett, P-37b
2nd - Karen Thorp, P-63b / 3rd - John MacCammont, P-39.
Prize Giving – Took place on Tues 30th May-17 7:00 pm.
Prizes of Allotment Shop Vouchers and Award Certificates were handed out, along with free entries to the Worcester Allotments Forum Competition 2017.