NAPS - WEST MIDLAND GROUP
RULES FOR EXHIBITORS

It is important that these rules be followed by the exhibitors and applied strictly by the judges.
Exhibits which contravene the rules will be disqualified.
1. The Shows are open to members of the National Auricula and Primula Society (Midland and West Section). Trophies will only be awarded to members.
2. Trophies are held for one year and must be returned for the following year. Engraving is the responsibility of the winners.
3. All exhibits must have been the property of the exhibitor for at least three months prior to the show.
4. Any number of entries may be submitted in each class. In the event of shortage of bench space the number of entries per exhibitor will be at the discretion of the Show Superintendent.
5. Beginners classes are open to anyone who has not won more than five first prizes at NAPS Shows. Any member who qualifies as a Beginner at the start of the show season will be regarded as a Beginner for that year, even if he or she is awarded five first prizes. After that he or she must enter the open classes.
6. Plants entered in seedling classes must not have won at any previous NAPS Shows.
7. Awards are given at the discretion of the judges whose decisions are final. Judges may withhold an award in cases where, in their opinion, the required standards have not been achieved.
8. a) An Award of Merit Card may be given to any plant, or multiple (including those already awarded a 1st, 2nd or 3rd) that has additional special qualities, e.g. a distinct advance in quality for its type or a new development. b) A Highly Commended Card may be awarded in any Class to a single plant or multiple that has failed to achieve any other award but is worthy of encouragement. c) No extra points will be awarded for these cards.
9. Exhibitors are not allowed to move other competitors’ pots, nor remove any plants before the end of the Show unless by prior agreement with the Show Superintendent. If extra space is needed the Show Superintendent must be contacted.
10. a) Edged, Self, Alpine, Fancy, Striped and Double Auriculas and Gold-Laced Polyanthus (single stem) entries must not have less than five fully expanded pips except in classes for one Edged Auricula where three pips are permissible. Plants carrying fewer than five fully open pips are not eligible for the award of a Premier Medal. b) In classes for Edged, Self, Alpine, Fancy, Striped and Double Auriculas all unopened buds must be removed. c) In classes for Gold-Laced Polyanthus (single stem) unopened buds may be left but must not detract from the appearance of the fully opened pips. d) All classes referred to in paragraphs 10a, 10b, and 10c will be judged to the relevant standards. e) All classes for Primulas and Border Auriculas will be judged for overall effect. Unopened buds may be left on the plants but must not detract from the appearance of the fully opened pips. Difficulty of cultivation may be taken into account with the rarer Primulas.
11. a) For Edged, Self, Fancy, Striped, Alpine and Double Auriculas only one truss per plant will be judged. All other trusses MUST be removed or neatly tied down. b) In the Gold-Laced Polyanthus (single stem) classes only the main flowering stem may be left on the plant. c) Border Auriculas should have at least five trusses except in the classes for Beginners and for Seedlings where three trusses are the minimum acceptable.
12. Neat stakes may be used to support stems in the Edged, Self, Fancy, Striped, Alpine and Double Auricula classes. Gold-Laced Polyanthus and Border Auriculas must NOT be staked. Where staking is used the stake must be as unobtrusive as possible and must not protrude past the junction of the stem and footstalks. The footstalks may be adjusted as part of the arrangement of the pips but may not be supported by artificial means.
13. Any packing between the pips used to correctly space them or to support them during transport must be removed prior to benching.
14. Each plant exhibited must carry a card label showing the plant's name (where applicable) or type and the exhibitor's number. An entry slip must also be placed in front of each exhibit giving all the details requested, i.e. class number, exhibitor’s number and plant name. In multiple pot classes, one slip must show the names of all the plants in the entry.
15. All pots must be round and of a terracotta colour. The form and appearance of the pots used shall in no way distract from the overall quality of the display. For some primula classes the pot size is specified in the schedule. In all other classes the size of the pot shall be appropriate to the plant it contains. As guidance the majority of Auriculas use 3-4 inch pots. In the case of Border Auriculas, a maximum pot size of 8 inches is allowed. Pot sizes are measured as the maximum internal diameter at the rim. The surface of the compost should present a neat appearance. The choice of any top-dressing should not detract from the overall appearance of the entry.
16. In multiple plant classes pots must be arranged from the front to the rear of the bench. Artificial means of raising any individual pot with respect to the others with the intention of compensating for small plants in the entry is not allowed. The varieties of the plants used in an entry shall be representative of all the types across the Section unless otherwise specified in the Schedule.