The Big Apple

Celebrations of English Apples and Cider in the Marcle Ridge Parishes of Herefordshire
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 2010

General information (updated 27 April 2010)

Our 2010 Cider and Perry Trials will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 1st May.  The Trials are generally agreed to be both instructive and great fun.  Certificates and trophies won at these trials are highly prized!

Competitors must bring their entries to Putley Village Hall between 9.30am and 11.30am on 1st May. Voting for the bottled classes will commence at 12.45pm for Class 9;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.  You can enter up to a maximum of five classes, with one entry and one vote per class. We accept that at the time of submitting and 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.  Novices may make up to two entries, one in each novice class.

Absolute novices are welcome!

To enter the Trials:

For each entry in a draught class, you will need to bring a clean, clear glass 1 gallon (5 litre) demi-john of draught cider or perry with a removable label showing your name, the class entered, 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.

For bottled-fermented/bottle conditioned classes: bring two 75 cl or three 50cl bottles of cider or perry for each class entered, each bottle with a tie-on label showing your name, class entered and specific gravity.

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

Please send your entry form together with a cheque made out to 'The Big Apple Association' for £5 for the first entry and £2 for each subsequent entry to: David Hewitt, Friars Acre, Little Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2JX  (telephone 01531 670389). We will acknowledge entries and send you the appropriate number of labels.

Please see below for the detailed rules of the competition.

Entry forms should be returned as soon as possible, preferably before 20th April.  The closing date will be 5pm on Tuesday, 27th April 2010.  No entries will be accepted on the morning of the competition.


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. Entries must be received, with payment, by 5pm on Tuesday 27th April 2010 at the very latest.  Entrants will be sent an acknowledgement and the appropriate number of labels for their entries.
  3. Entries should be delivered to Putley Village Hall between 9.30am and 11.30am on the morning of Saturday 1st May, at which time entrants will be issued with their voting card(s). If necessary, entries can be left before Saturday 1st by prior arrangement - contact us for details.
  4. Competitors in the bottled classes should return to the hall at 12.45pm (for class 9) or 1.15pm (for class 8) to take part in the judging.  Judging in the draught classes will commence at 1.30pm.  Anyone returning later than 2.30pm will not be allowed to judge, except by prior agreement with the organisers.  Judging will end at 4.00pm.
  5. 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.
  6. Draught entries must be in clear 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.
  7. Bottled fermented/conditioned entries to be in two 75cl or three 50cl bottles with tie-on labels showing class number and entrant’s name. Bottles must be free of all other identifying labels.
  8. 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)

  9. Entry fee for the first entry is £5; subsequent entries are £2 each.  One entry per class, maximum of 5 entries (2 for novices)
  10. Trophies and certificates will be awarded on the day.
  11. 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.
  12. There will be an award for Best Product which can be from any of the classes.
  13. The Three Counties Cider and Perry Association Trophy will be awarded to the most successful Novice. 
  14. Winners may be asked to provide a further gallon of their winning product, to be paid for at wholesale prices.
  15. The organisers’ decision is final.
  16. 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.
  17. The organisers reserve the right to request anyone to leave whom they consider to be causing a nuisance.