The Monthly competition
There are two competitions each month, Open and Themed. The theme for each competition is decided in advance by the association's committee.
The monthly competition constitutes a major part of the activities of the BWA. Members are invited each month to submit examples of their work. In order to encourage all members to contribute to the competition it is divided into four standards: beginners, intermediates, advanced and masters.
The purpose is to enable members to demonstrate their skills. The OPEN category allows members to submit items that reflect their personal interest. The THEME imposes a more disciplined approach, as members are required to produce an item matching the description set by the committee at the start of the year.
As detailed below all items are judged, generally by the visiting demonstrator, and then discussed in the form of a ‘critique’ by the judge.
New or inexperienced members should not be put off by the very high abilities of some of the members, but be encouraged to emulate these standards. 'Practice makes perfect'.
January - bell or bells
February - Sculpture/Plaque
March - Bird House
April - Bowl with flowing lines
May - Cup and saucer
June - Item in style of Greco or Roman classic
July - Aeroplane/Spaceship
August - Musical instrument
September - Spoon (set for advanced and masters)
October - Thin walled turned item
November - Hollow form
December - Keith Sherwood Competition and other events to be announced
Turner of the Year and the Keith Sherwood Trophy
As a result of the judging competition points are awarded on the basis of the quality of the entry (see Competition Rules). Each December, the individual gaining the most points over the 11 monthly competitions, will be declared ‘Turner of the Year’ and will hold a trophy, suitably inscribed, for the following twelve month period. In addition the top performers in each of the skill standards will also receive a small token of recognition.
In 2011 the Turner of the Year was Adrian Cobb
Runner-up: Richard Maynard
Leading overall point scorers in 2011 were:
Masters: R Maynard (202), J Coombs (193), C Hayes (63)
Advanced: C Cox (113), S Earis (73), D Brownhill (39)
Intermediates: A Cobb (212), D Turner (53), R Dickinson (43)
Beginners: P Batty (146), D Blundell (103), G Hayward (58)
Presentations to some of the winners by the Club Chairman are shown below
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Promotions
In accordance with club procedures the members promoted to a higher category for 2012 are as follows:
Paul Batty and Dave Blundell from Beginners to Intermediates
Adrian Cobb from Intermediates to Master
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As a matter of interest only, for the MASTER standard, the theme points are continually aggregated from year to year. The leading club members are:
Bill Riley (451), Charlie Hayes (400), Roy Wood (387), N Griffiths (322), J Coombs (283)
Keith Sherwood Trophy
The change in rules resulted in a much better response for 2011 with 14 entries. The winner was Adrian Cobb. His entry is shown below
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Competition results 2012
Leading point scorers 2012
Masters: H Grimwood (20), J Coombs (17), A Cobb (16)
Advanced: No entries to date
Intermediates: P Batty (18)
Beginners: S Dodd (10), M Petch (10), G Hayward/M Freeman (9)
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Competition results 2011
Leading point scorers 2011
Masters: R Maynard (203), J Coombs (195), C Hayes (46)
Advanced: C Cox (113), S Earis (73), D Brownhill (39)
Intermediates: A Cobb (213), D Turner (53), R Dickinson (43)
Beginners: P Batty (146), D Blundell (113), G Hayward (58)
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To encourage more turners with less experience to enter the Themed competions each month while enabling those with more experience to demonstrate their abilities in some months the Theme will be set at two levels of difficulty. A simple Theme has been chosen, such as bowl or vase, for all levels while a further requirement introducing additional difficulty has been introduced for the Advances and master Categories. However, Beginners and Intermediates are welcome to try these more advanced forms if theyso wish.
Otherwise the rules remain the same as indicated below:
1. The competition is open to all members of the association.
2.There will be two categories in the competition: OPEN, this can be any item turned by the member. THEME, the particular theme for each month will be determined by the committee at the start of the year. The idea of the prescribed theme is to encourage members to try techniques, perhaps, outside their experience or comfort zone and thus improve their versatility. The Open competition allows the member free reign to turn anything that takes their fancy, there is no restriction in terms of wood, shape, size or finish. Only ONE item can be entered in EACH of the two categories. Any item submitted for a competition in either the theme or open categories cannot be entered again in any future competition.
3. The membership is organised into four standards, Beginners, Intermediates, Advanced and Master.
New members must provide evidence of their work (at least two items) to be inspected by a panel of committee members so that the appropriate entry level can be determined.
4. Each competition category will be judged in these four standards.
5. The main demonstrator of the meeting will be invited to judge the competition. Failing this a panel of experienced memebrs of the association will be asked to perform this task.
6. Entries will be judged and awarded first, second, third, fourth or fifth places. If the standard of the entries are deemed not to warrant a first category the judges can issue a second or third place as felt appropriate. This will apply in particular for catagories with only one or two entries
7. Competition points will be allocated 10 for first, 9 for second, down to 6 for fifth place. All other entries will automatically receive 4 points.
8. There will be a certificate awarded to all First and Second placed entries each month.
9. Progress from the Beginners to Intermediates, Intermediates to Advanced, and Advanced to Master will be made at the end of the current year if the individual member has accrued a total in excess of 70 points IN THE THEME CATEGORY ONLY. In the following January all Beginners, Intermediates and Advanced points will revert to zero.
10. For the MASTER category the theme points will be continually aggregated as a matter of interest only.
11. In addition there will be a Turner of the Year award. A trophy, suitably inscribed to be held by the recipient for the following twelve month period, will be awarded to the member accruing the highest number of points in BOTH the theme and open categories for the competitions held in the four periods of that calendar year. Some form of recognition for all top performers in the individual categories will be made.
12. The Turner of the Year will receive a small cash prize of value determined by the committee with regard to the current financial situation.
13. In the event of a draw in the Turner of the Year the award will be conjoint, each recipient holding the trophy for a six month period.
14. The preceding rules may be modified at any time at the discretion of the committee.