The Monthly competition 
National
competitions
Competition Results 2008 / latest
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'
Themes 2008
16/01/2008 Carved or Decorated Bowl or Platter
20/02/2008 Item from a scale drawing (must be accurate)
19/03/2008 Item (s) from 50X50X450mm Pine block
16/04/2008 A bar Item (bottle stopper, corkscrew, etc.)
21/05/2008 A fruit bowl
18/06/2008 A Russian Doll (set of)
16/07/2008 Sphere to roll down a ramp (details later)
20/08/2008 An 'Inside-out' turned item
17/09/2008 A Silhouette item
15/10/2008 A three-legged stool
19/11/2008 A Pestle & Mortar
17/12/2008 A cracker (non-competition)
Turner of the Year
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 2007 the Turner of the Year was Bill Riley.
Runners-up: 2nd Andy Webber, 3rd Mick Pither
The top performers were:
Masters Bill Riley
Advanced Jim Coombs
Intermediates Andy Webber
Beginners Tony Parker
The 2008 points for those competing for Turner of the Year, as well as leading scores in each category, are added here - as available. After the February Competition the leading scores are:
Masters: W Riley, 60
Advanced: D Carnall, 37
Intermediates: C Cox, 39
Beginners: A Nottridge, 48
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:
Roy Wood and Charlie Hayes
| January - Carved or Decorated Bowl or Platter | ||||
| Beginners | Theme | M Freeman (10); A Nottridge (9) | ||
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| Open | M Freeman (10); A Nottridge (9); D Mitchell (8) | |||
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| Intermediates | Theme | T Parker (10) | ||
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| Open | C Cox (9) | |||
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| Advanced | Theme | A Webber (10); D Carnall (9); B Attewell (9); H Grimwood (9) | ||
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| Open | D Carnall (10) | |||
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| Masters | Theme | W Riley(10); C Hayes (10); B Martin (9); D Booth (9); J Coombs (8) | ||
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| Open | W Riley (10); C Hayes (9); B Martinr (8) J Coombs (8); | |||
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Competition rules
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.