The Association Branch Honey Show is held annually in September at Middleton Hall, Tamworth. This year the show will be held on over the weekend of 12th and 13th September.

12th September will be the main judging and presentation

13st September, the honey show will be open to the public.

Trophies and certificates are awarded for honey and other products and items associated with bees.

Entry is free and open to association members and their immediate family.

Following judging the show is open to the public and the honey show judge gives feedback on the quality of the exhibits.

Middleton Hall, Middleton, Tamworth, Staffs B78 2AE 

Judges: Joyce Nisbet – Wales / John Goodman – Cheshire

The timings for 2026 are as follows –

Schedule of Classes

Class 1. Two 454g jars of light honey

Class 2. Two 454g jars of medium honey

Class 3. Two 454g jars of dark honey

Class 4. Two 454g jars of soft set or naturally crystallised/granulated (not stirred) honey

Class 5. Two 454g jars of heather honey

Class 6. One 454g jar of liquid honey (any colour) – Gift class

Class 7. One shallow frame of honey for either extraction or cut comb

Class 8a. One container of cut comb (minimum gross weight 200g)

Class 8b. One section of honey (minimum gross weight 200g)

Class 9. One plain cake of beeswax (minimum weight 227g, minimum thickness 20mm)

Class 10. Two 454g jars of light honey

Class 11. Two 454g jars of medium or dark honey

Class 12. One 454g jar of honey (any type) – Novice class

Class 13. One plain cake of beeswax (minimum weight 150g) – Novice class 

Class 14. One 75cl bottle of mead (of any type – sweet, dry, melomel etc)

Class 15. A single item produced from products of the hive

Class 16. A colour or monochrome photographic print of a subject of interest to beekeeping mounted on plain card (maximum mount size 260 x 347 mm)

Class 17. A single item of artwork depicting a subject of interest to beekeeping – Junior class

Class 18. A single item of interest in beekeeping made by association member or their immediate family Class 19. One honey cake

Class 20. Six honey biscuits

Class 21. Honey candies (minimum of 5)

Class 22. A pair of matching beeswax candles

Sutton Park class. One 454g jar of honey – Novice beekeeper

Routh Challenge class. One shallow frame of honey for extraction (as supplied by Honey Show Secretary at AGM)

Guest class. A bee forage display

General rules and notes – please read carefully

1. Every article exhibited must be the bone fide property of the exhibitor and all honey gathered in the UK by bees that are the property of the exhibitor at the time of gathering. All wax must be the natural produce of bees owned by the exhibitor. This rule may be waived for Classes 15 to 22 at the discretion of the Show Executive.
2. Any exhibitor may place any number of entries in any one class, but may be awarded only one prize in that class.

• Classes 1 to 14 and the Guest class are for association members only. Classes 15 to 22 are open to members and their immediate families.
• Juniors must be under 18 years.
• Novice entrants (Classes 12 and 13) are members who have not previously won a 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd prize card for honey/beeswax in any honey show or have previously entered 5 or more honey shows.

Novice beekeepers (Sutton Park trophy) are those who have been keeping bees for 3 years or less (since September 2023 onwards).

• The number of awards in any class will be at the discretion of the Judge. The decision of the Judge or the Honey Show Secretary shall be final and based on the BBKA honey show rules 1994.
• Completed entry forms are to be sent to the Honey Show Secretary by September 9^th.
• No class entry will be accepted after 10.15 am on the day of the show. Staging of exhibits to be completed by 10.30 am. No names or markings other than the show identification number should be affixed to exhibits (except Class 15). Labels will be provided at the show or to exhibitor if SAE provided with entry form.
• Points are awarded as below and prizes are awarded at 10p per point. Additional points awarded for the Larard and Progress trophies are not included prize money.

First prize – 6 points

Second prize – 5 points

Third prize – 4 points

Very Highly commended – 3 points

Highly commended – 2 points

Commended – 1 point

1. All entries are staged at the exhibitor’s own risk. The Honey show organisers will take reasonable care of exhibits but cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage howsoever caused.

1. Entrants are reminded of show etiquette and to complete entry sheet in a timely manner (allowing for correct show bench spacing), to notify Honey Show Secretary on the day of any exhibits not entered, to only handle their own exhibits and to not divulge entrants results before the entrant has looked round the show.

Class specific rules

Classes 1-6, 10-11, 12 and Sutton Park trophy – honey should be exhibited in standard 454g squat clear glass jars with gold lacquered metal screw lids with label fixed 15 mm from base of jar to bottom edge of label. NHS recognised BD grading glasses will be available to assist entrants with correct class entry.

Class 6 (gift) the honey will become the show property on staging for distribution after the show to a local charity – 2026 Sutton Cancer Centre, Lindridge Road. Buy back is allowed at the end of the show at £5 per 454g. Proposed buy back to be previously advised to Honey Show Secretary via entry form.

Class 7 label should be affixed on right hand top corner of frame show case and on top bar of frame itself. Use of plastic foundation is prohibited.

Class 8 label should be affixed on right hand top corner of the container of cut comb.

Classes 9 and 13 plain/unpatterned moulds to be used for cake of beeswax and label clearly affixed to bag/cover or display case.

Class 14 mead should be exhibited in a clear colourless threadless cylindrical punted glass 75 cl bottle and closed with a cork stopper with a white plastic flange. There must be approximately 20 mm from the bottom of the cork to the liquid. The exhibit number label should be fixed 15 mm from base of bottle to bottom edge of label. A label (provided by the Honey Show Secretary) to identify mead as sweet, dry, melomel etc to be fixed 25 mm above the exhibit number label.

Class 15 will be judged on commercial appeal as well as contents. This class can include wax, candles, cosmetics, polish, propolis preparations etc. For cosmetics, a suitable label as for sale based on SCHEDULE 34 Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 must be included although, the product for show entry does not need a cosmetic product safety report or to be registered with the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Class 16 all photographs must have been taken by exhibitor. Any photographs entered at the branch honey show may not be entered in the same class in subsequent years. Entries must be mounted with a border of at least 25mm on each of the four sides. Label must be placed on the front of the mount, bottom right-hand corner.

Class 17 to include the title of item and age of exhibitor. 

Class 18  a description of exhibit can be included, if appropriate.

Class 19 cake made to the following recipe and exhibited on plate in transparent wrapping with label attached to the front of the plate, clearly visible and not obscured by the exhibit (wrapping and plate provided by Honey Show Secretary). 

• 150g butter, 175g clear honey, 15ml water, 110g soft brown sugar, 2 eggs, 200g self-raising flour. 
• Place butter, sugar, honey and water into a saucepan and heat until fat has melted, stirring continuously. Remove the pan from the heat and allow contents to cool to blood temperature. Gradually beat in the eggs. Add sieved flour and mix until smooth (do not over mix). Pour mixture into a greased and lined tin (180mm ± 10mm diameter) and bake in oven at 180^oC or Gas mark 4 for 1 hour or until risen and firm to touch.

Class 20 biscuits made to the following recipe and 6 to be exhibited on a doily in transparent wrapping with label attached to the front of doily, clearly visible and not obscured by the exhibit (doily, wrapping and plate provided by Honey Show Secretary).

• 65g margarine, 25g caster sugar, 1 dessertspoon honey, 110g plain flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 tsp grated lemon rind.
• Cream margarine, sugar and honey with lemon rind. Add sieved flour and salt. Work together into a smooth paste. Turn onto a floured board and roll out to approximately 5mm thick. Cut into plain rounds about 60mm in diameter and prick. Place on a greased baking tray and bake at 180^oC or Gas mark 4 for about 15 minutes or until pale brown.

Class 21. Honey candies (minimum of 5 candies) made to the recipe of exhibitor’s choice and exhibited on a doily in transparent wrapping with label on front of doily clearly visible and not obscured by the exhibit (wrapping and plate provided by Honey Show Secretary). Chosen recipe to be displayed with exhibit.

Class 22. The candles shall be made solely of beeswax and can be dipped, moulded or rolled. The candles shall be presented in/on non-combustible holders that allow the two to be compared. One candle may be lit to check for correct size of wick. Labels should be fixed around the base of the candles to be seen when in holder.

Routh Challenge trophy class. The entrant enters at the beginning of the beekeeping season and is supplied the component parts of a super frame. The entrant assembles the frame, places it in the hive for the bees to draw out, fill with honey and cap to an even flat level to make the complete frame suitable for extraction. The entrant commits to exhibiting the frame at the current years honey show (regardless of condition). The frame is to be displayed in a stand provided by Honey Show Secretary and will be judged on construction, cleanliness, number of filled cells, its suitability for extraction and quality of honey. The first placed entrant cannot enter this class the following year.

Guest class. This class is open to members and the exhibit type to be entered each year changes (i.e. a it is a rotational ‘guest’ to our show schedule!). The winner of the class wins the Hooley Honey Pot trophy and draws next year’s exhibit type (from the remaining classes from the listed for interest in the tips for entry) at the next AGM.

For 2026 the exhibit is a Bee forage display, a representative display of plants and/or flowers that honey bees collect nectar and/or pollen from created in any medium. Exhibits should be made by the exhibitor and could include but are not limited to Lego, jewellery, collage, pottery, needlework, pictorial art, fresh or preserved flowers. The display should include a card stating the name of the plants/flowers represented. Approximate dimensions must be stated on the entry form with a base not exceeded 450mm x 450mm.

Awards

The Blue Ribbon will be awarded by a BBKA qualified judge to the Best Exhibit in the show if more than 100 entries are exhibited.

The James Rose bowl, presented by Mr EH James, will be awarded for the highest total points in Classes 1 to 14.

The Geoff Larard trophy, presented by Mrs Larard, with the aim of creating a wider interest in all classes. This trophy will be awarded for the highest total number of points, but cannot be held with the James Rose bowl or twice in succession. Two bonus points will be given to each competitor for every class entered and staged except those who have won a first prize in Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in the previous exhibited year.

The Oakhurst trophy, presented by Miss KM Evans, will be awarded for the best exhibit in Class 2

The Cowles cup, presented by Mrs Cowles, will be awarded for the best exhibit in Class 6.

The W Diaper cup, presented by Mrs Diaper, will be awarded to the exhibitor gaining the highest total points in Classes 10 and 11.

The Bernard Diaper shield, presented in appreciation of services to beekeeping in Sutton Coldfield, will be awarded to the novice exhibitor with most points in Classes 12 and 13.

The W J Organ plate, presented by Mrs Organ, will be awarded for the best exhibit in Class 19.

The Progress trophy, presented by Mr K Griffin

• The cup shall be awarded to the branch member who shows the greatest improvement measured by their total points difference between the last exhibited year and current shows.

• The award shall be decided jointly by the Honey Show Secretary and the Chairman or if these are the same person or in running for the trophy, the vice or past chairman shall stand in.

Points shall be awarded 5 for a first etc and bonus points as per the Larard trophy. In the case of a tie the highest points in the current year shall decide. For further ties the chairman and Honey Show Secretary will use their discretion.

The Sutton Park trophy, awarded to a novice beekeeper who has been keeping bees for 3 years or less

The Routh Challenge trophy, presented in appreciation of services to beekeeping in Sutton Coldfield as a ‘true challenge of beekeeping skills’

The Hooley Honey pot trophy, awarded to the winner of the Guest class.

Cup and trophy winners must hand their cups back to the Honey Show Secretary at the end of the show in order that necessary engraving be carried out. All trophies remain the property of Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham Beekeepers Association. The winner of a trophy may retain it until the following year and should take reasonable care whilst it is in their possession. It should be returned cleaned and polished in good condition to the Honey Show Secretary prior to or at the show for presentation to the next recipient.