Celebrations of English apples, pears, cider and perry in the Herefordshire parishes of the Marcle Ridge
Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Munsley, Pixley, Putley and Woolhope

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Rules and Entry Details of The Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials 2013

General information (updated 27 April 2013)

Our 2013 Cider and Perry Trials will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 4th May. Please read the following before entering!

Entrants must complete a Big Apple Cider and Perry Trials entry form and submit this no later than 12 noon on 27 April with entry fee.

Competitors must bring their entries to Putley Village Hall between 9.30am and 11.30am on Saturday 4th May. Voting for the bottled classes will commence at 12.45pm for Class 9 and 1.15pm for Class 8. Voting for the remaining classes will commence at 1.30pm.

There are classes for draught ciders and perries, and classes for bottle fermented and/or bottle conditioned ciders and perries.  The cider and perry entered into the bottle fermented/conditioned classes should show evidence of a natural sparkle (CO2 from yeast fermentation within the bottle) when poured. Any ciders or perries that are not sparkling may be excluded from the scoring.

You can enter up to a maximum of four classes, with one entry and one vote per class. We accept that at the time of submitting an entry the final SG of your samples may not be known and you may change classes on the morning of the trials, provided that you do not have more than one entry in any class.

There are also draught classes for novices, that is, anyone who is new to cider and perry making, having made it for 3 years or less and having not won a prize at any previous Big Apple event. Novices may make up to two entries, one in each novice class. You may not make entries in both Novice and Main classes.

Absolute novices are welcome!

In line with responsible drinking guidelines, The Big Apple Association requires all cider and perry trials entrants to be at least 18 years old on the date of the competition (4th May 2013).


To enter the Trials:

For each entry in a draught class, you will need to bring a clean, clear, unmarked, glass 1 gallon (5 litre) demi-john of draught cider or perry with a removable label (which we will supply) showing your name, the class entered (see Rule 9 over), and the product's specific gravity.  The demi-john must have a correctly fitting cork or rubber stopper.   Entries not meeting these requirements will NOT be accepted.  Empty demi-johns will be available to replace the demi-johns that you have used on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. 

For bottled-fermented/bottle conditioned classes: entries must be in two heavyweight punted 75cl glass bottles with correct closures for each class entered, each bottle with a removable label showing your name and class entered.

We will supply the labels on receipt of the entry form and incorrectly labelled entries will NOT be accepted.

It would be helpful for the public tastings on the Sunday and Monday if you could write on the back of the labels for the draught classes the following additional information:

(1) If it is commercially available, where it can be purchased. (2) the fruit varieties used and (3) where it is made.

Please send your entry form together with a cheque made out to "The Big Apple Association" for £5 for the first entry and £3 for each subsequent entry to: David Hewitt, Friars Acre, Little Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2JX.  (Telephone 01531 670389)

Entry forms should be returned as soon as possible, preferably before 14th April as we need to have time to send you the entry labels.  The absolute closing date will be 12 noon on Saturday 27th April.

No entries can be accepted after this time or on the morning of the competition, although competitors may change the class of a draught entry on delivery to the hall, provided they still have no more than one entry per class.



Rules of the competition, to be judged blind by the competitors

  1. The Trials are open to any maker of cider or perry, with the exception of those directly involved in the organisation of the Trials on the day.
  2. Competitors must be at least 18 years old on the day of the competition - 4th May 2013.
  3. Completed entry forms must be received, with payment, by 12 noon on Saturday 27th April at the very latest.  Entrants will be sent an acknowledgement and labels for their entries.
  4. Entrants' demin-johns and bottles must be delivered to Putley Village Hall between 9.30am and 11.30am on the morning of Saturday 4th May, at which time entrants will be issued with their voting card(s).
  5. Competitors in the Bottled Perry Class (9) should return to the hall at 12.45pm to take part in the judging; those in the Bottled Cider Class (8) should arrive by 1.15pm, and judging in the draught classes will commence at 2.00pm.  Anyone returning later than 2.30pm will not be allowed to judge, except by prior agreement with the organisers.  Judging will end at 4.30pm, followed by the presentations at approximately 5.00pm.
  6. Entries become the property of the Big Apple Association and will remain on display in the hall on the Sunday and Monday for tasting by the public.
  7. Draught entries must be in clean, clear, unmarked glass demi-johns with the supplied tie-on labels stating exhibitor's name, class number and finished specific gravity.  The organisers will randomly test the specific gravity of entries.  Entrants may change the class of an entry on delivery to the hall, provided that they have no more than one entry per class.  Once entries have been accepted, any entry with an SG found to be out of the range specified for the class will be disqualified.
  8. Bottled fermented/conditioned entries to be two heavyweight, punted 75cl glass bottles with correct closures with supplied tie-on labels showing class number and entrant's name. Bottles must be free of all other identifying labels.
  9. The organisers reserve the right not to accept any entry that does not meet the required standard of presentation.  The organisers' decision is final.
  10. The classes will be as follows:

    Class 1 Draught dry cider: gravity up to 1005
    Class 2 Draught medium cider: gravity 1005 - 1015
    Class 3 Draught sweet cider: gravity above 1015
    Class 4 Draught dry perry: gravity up to 1005
    Class 5 Draught medium/sweet perry: gravity 1005 plus
    Class 6  Novice draught cider
    Class 7  Novice draught perry
    Class 8 Bottle fermented/bottle conditioned cider
    Class 9  Bottle fermented/bottle conditioned perry

     (Please note: classes 6 to 9 will only be held if there are at least 5 entries in the class)

  11. Entry fee for the first entry is £5; subsequent entries are £3 each.  One entry per class, up to a maximum of 4 entries (2 for novices).
  12. Trophies and certificates will be awarded on the day.
  13. Challenge trophies will be awarded to the Best Draught Cidermaker, Best Draught Perrymaker and Best Product.  An engraved glass tankard will become the property of each challenge trophy winner.
  14. There will be an award for Best Product which can be from any of the classes.
  15. The Three Counties Cider and Perry Association Trophy will be awarded to the most successful Novice. 
  16. Winners may be asked to provide a further gallon of their winning product, to be paid for at wholesale prices.
  17. Voting figures will be available to be seen by competitors after the Trials.  Lists of the winners will be posted on the Big Apple website after the Trials.
  18. The organisers reserve the right to request anyone to leave whom they consider to be causing a nuisance.
  19. The organisers' decision on any matter is final.

 

 

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