Autumn Show terms and conditions
Please read the show terms and conditions before completing the Autumn Show 2024 application form.
- Judging of horticultural exhibits is governed by the rules of the Royal Horticultural Society.
- The competition is open to all Hillingdon residents, unless otherwise stated.
- There are no entry fees.
- All exhibitors must pre-register their entries by completing and submitting the online form by 5pm on Friday 30 August 2024.
- Please note: The show committee, and/or the council, reserves the right to refuse to accept any entries from any exhibitor and/or refuse admission and, in the event of any such refusal, is not required to give any reason or explanation.
- Entries will not be accepted after the closing date or on the day of the show.
- Exhibitors may enter any/all relevant classes in each section but may only exhibit 1 entry in each class.
- Each dish must contain 1 cultivar only, unless otherwise specified.
- Any horticultural exhibit in competition for prizes must be the bona fide property of the competitor and must have been grown from seed by the exhibitor or have been in his/her possession or cared for by him/her for at least 2 months prior to the date of the show.
- Exhibitors should leave all bloom on fruits, i.e., do not polish apples and plums. Wash vegetables but do not scrub them or use an artificial cleaner.
- Exhibits must be staged (by appointment only) between 2pm and 8pm on Friday 13 September or between 7am and 9.30am on Saturday 14 September 2024.
- Show entry cards will be sent to each exhibitor prior to the show date and must be fully completed before arriving and placed under each exhibit as it is staged.
- Judging will start promptly at 10.30am on Saturday 14 September 2024.
- Only people permitted by the show judging committee shall be allowed to remain during the judging.
- Prize winners will be awarded a rosette, a certificate and a combination of RAGC and RHS Garden Centre vouchers. Note: Vouchers are not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
- A competitor, when awarded 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in any category, may not win vouchers exceeding a value of £300 in total (exception: see point 17 below). Please note: Vouchers are not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
- Where special awards are made, e.g., for Best in Show, this will only be given to an exhibit attaining a 1st prize and an additional one-off prize of £100* in RHS Garden Centre vouchers will apply. Please note: Vouchers are not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
- In the event of a tie, the number of 1st places awarded to each exhibitor will be taken into consideration.
- Exhibits must be removed (by appointment only) between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday 16 September. Any exhibit not removed at the appointment time will become the property of the show committee and disposed of as deemed necessary.
- Vouchers and certificates will be posted to winners by first class, registered mail by the end of the last week in November at the latest.
- A list of winner's names will be posted on the Councils website in due course. If you do not wish to have your name shown, then please email autumnshow@hillingdon.gov.uk by Friday 20 September 2024.
- The judges and the show judging committee have the authority to withhold prizes at their discretion.
- The council accepts no responsibility for entries that may be lost, damaged or delayed whether due to transmission errors, website malfunction, computer error or otherwise. Please note: the receipt of an acknowledgement is not a guarantee that the application has been received. If you wish to confirm receipt of your application, then please email autumnshow@hillingdon.gov.uk separately and request confirmation.
- By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions herein.
- Any breach of the Terms and Conditions by an entrant will void their entry.
- If a breach has occurred but is only discovered after the award of a prize, the council will require the prize to be returned.
- The council reserves the right to exclude or disqualify any entrant who has acted fraudulently in any way.
- Complaints or protests must be made in writing to autumnshow@hillingdon.gov.uk by 4pm on Monday 16 September 2024. Such protests shall be considered by the show judging committee, whose decision will be final.