Honey Section

Welcome to the Honey Section which for many years has been organised and attended by members of Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association. www.wpbka.org.uk
As Section Secretary I am appointed by the Emley Show Committee, of which I am an active member. I am also Chair of Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association.

I have been beekeeping since 2010 and have shown exhibits at many local and National shows. I also steward for shows in the Yorkshire region including the Great Yorkshire Show.

I am passionate about supporting country shows and promoting the craft of beekeeping. I am therefore thrilled to be Emley Honey Section Secretary.
The Emley ‘Honey’ show has two sections with two different schedules, I hope to see as many entries as possible at this year’s show. Find out more details of how you can get involved below.

Open show

This is open to anyone to enter exhibits. Prize money for each class is provided by the Emley Show Society. I am keen to expand the number of entries in this show and have introduced two additional classes for the 2023 show.

2022 Open Honey show Results

Prizes:  First – £3.00,                   Second – £2.00,                    Third – £1.00

Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association show

Entries for this show are only open to Wakefield and Pontefract Members. The winners of each section are awarded the appropriate trophy at their AGM.

See winners from 2022 Show

Best in Show – class 1212 – Jo Brown

Reserve best in show – class 1207 – Mark Buckley

Rules of the show

Organised by Members of Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association
Enquires and entries to: – Mark Millard,
170 New Road, Overton, Wakefield. WF4 4RG
Tel 07497 429646, e mail wpbka.sec@gmail.com
Cheques payable to ‘Emley Show Society’

Rules and Regulations of the Honey Show Section

1. Exhibitors must label exhibits with the labels provided as follows:
   Honey: 1” (2.5cms) between the bottom of the jar and the label
   Mead: 1” (2.5cms) between the bottom of the bottle and the label
   Wax cakes: Labels to be fixed to show case or polythene bag and bottom of wax cake
   Honey cakes: to be presented on a plain paper plate. Contained in clear polythene bag.
   Labels fixed on plate and top right corner of bag.
   Comb: Labels to be fixed to top right-hand corner of showcase and on top bar of frame.
2. No exhibitor’s name, card, trademark or label may appear on any exhibit.
3. All honey must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees. Extracted honey must be exhibited in clear glass 1lb (454g) jars, of British Standard (Squat) design with standard gold lacquered screw caps. All jars must be matched pairs of the same type.
4. ‘Light / Medium/ Dark’ relativity will be defined using NHS (BD) grading glasses.
5. Combs should be exhibited in an appropriate case.
6. Wax must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees and the wax rendered and prepared by the exhibitor or their assistant. Wax to be weighed by the judge.
7. Mead must be exhibited in plain glass bottles of approx. 26fl.oz (76cl) capacity with rounded shoulders. Level of mead must be within ¾” (1.8cm) of the base of the stopper & white plastic-topped cork stoppers only to be used
8. Exhibitors can have more than one entry in a class but no single entry may be shown in more than one class. An exhibitor will be entitled to only one award in any one class.
9. Open classes are open to any resident of the United Kingdom.
10. Exhibits must not be tasted or interfered with in any way during the show without authority of the Stewards.
11. Definitions: Soft Set Honey is honey which has been softened, stirred and allowed to reset.
    Granulated Honey is set honey that is not soft set or creamed.
12. Trophies will be awarded in classes 1214 – 1229. Both open and WPBKA classes will be eligible to be awarded the Blue Ribbon for best exhibit.
13. Any Rule not covered by the Rules and Regulations of the Honey show Section will be in accordance with Rules of The Yorkshire Beekeepers’ Association Honey Show.
14. Entry fee: 50p per entry. Entries on the form provided by 01 August 2023.
    Class 1221 Novice – Free Entry. A Novice is anyone who has not previously won a first prize in any class in the Honey Section of the Emley Show.
    Entries made on day of show; extra 10p per entry.
    Entries to the value of £4 and over will qualify for an exhibitor’s pass. (If received BEFORE SHOW DAY)
15. Staging of exhibits must be made by 09:30 on day of show.
16. Exhibitors must label exhibits with the labels provided as follows:
    Honey: 1” (2.5cms) between the bottom of the jar and the label
    Mead: 1” (2.5cms) between the bottom of the bottle and the label
    Wax cakes: Labels to be fixed to show case or polythene bag and bottom of wax cake
    Honey cakes: to be presented on a plain paper plate. Contained in clear polythene bag.
    Labels fixed on plate and top right corner of bag.
    Comb: Labels to be fixed to top right-hand corner of showcase and on top bar of frame.
17. No exhibitor’s name, card, trademark or label may appear on any exhibit.
18. All honey must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees. Extracted honey must be exhibited in clear glass 1lb (454g) jars, of British Standard (Squat) design with standard gold lacquered screw caps. All jars must be matched pairs of the same type.
19. ‘Light / Medium/ Dark’ relativity will be defined using NHS (BD) grading glasses.
20. Combs should be exhibited in an appropriate case.
21. Wax must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees and the wax rendered and prepared by the exhibitor or their assistant. Wax to be weighed by the judge.
22. Mead must be exhibited in plain glass bottles of approx. 26fl.oz (76cl) capacity with rounded shoulders. Level of mead must be within ¾” (1.8cm) of the base of the stopper & white plastic-topped cork stoppers only to be used
23. Exhibitors can have more than one entry in a class but no single entry may be shown in more than one class. An exhibitor will be entitled to only one award in any one class.
24. Open classes are open to any resident of the United Kingdom.
25. Exhibits must not be tasted or interfered with in any way during the show without authority of the Stewards.
26. Definitions: Soft Set Honey is honey which has been softened, stirred and allowed to reset.
    Granulated Honey is set honey that is not soft set or creamed
27. Trophies will be awarded in classes 1214 – 1229. Both open and WPBKA classes will be eligible to be awarded the Blue Ribbon for best exhibit.
28. Any Rule not covered by the Rules and Regulations of the Honey show Section will be in accordance with Rules of The Yorkshire Beekeepers’ Association Honey Show.
29. Entry fee: 50p per entry. Entries on the form provided by 01 August 2023.
    Class 1221 Novice – Free Entry. A Novice is anyone who has not previously won a first prize in any class in the Honey Section of the Emley Show.
    Entries made on day of show; extra 10p per entry.
    Entries to the value of £4 and over will qualify for an exhibitor’s pass. (If received BEFORE SHOW DAY)
30. Staging of exhibits must be made by 09:30 on day of show.
    ALL VEHICLES MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE SHOWGROUND BY 9.00AM

Why show?

Honey is a unique product depending on the local forage available. Each hive within an Apiary will forage on different plants at different times of the year giving different colours, flavours, and aromas. The variety in the colour of honey displayed at a show support the uniqueness of honey which is always a source of amazement to the public. The show gives the public an insight into local honey and products produced by Honeybees.

The show is an ideal opportunity for beekeepers to engage with the public in promoting the craft of beekeeping. The beekeeper, in showing exhibits is perfecting techniques in preparing both honey and wax products. Winning awards at shows gives some accreditation to the standard of product produced.

Other activities

Wakefield and Pontefract Beekeepers Association are a District Association of the ‘British Beekeepers Association,’ and members are on hand to discuss the craft of beekeeping with members of the public.
We have live bees in an observation hive which draws a great deal of interest from both adults and children.

Local honey is also for sale, and it is hoped in 2023 honey tasting will be available giving the opportunity for the public to experience the uniqueness of honey.

Whether you are an exhibitor or visitor to the show, we look forward to meeting you in 2023.

Mark Millard
Honey Section Secretary

Open Classes

Prizes: 1st – £3.00, 2nd – £2.00, 3rd – £1.00
Judge Mr T Jefferson – Whitby.

CLASS

1201 Two 1lb (454g) jars light honey
1202 Two 1lb (454g) jars medium honey
1203 Two 1lb (454g) jars dark honey
1204 Two 1lb (454g) jars soft set or granulated honey (see Rule 11)
1205 Two 1lb (454g) jars heather/heather blend honey
1206 One 1lb (454g) “BLACKED OUT” JAR OF HONEY. Honey to be judged on taste and flavour only, but must be free of wax, foreign matter and defects. The sleeve will be provided by the show organisers
1207 One bottle of dry mead (see Rule 7)
1208 One bottle of sweet mead (see Rule 7)
1209 One cake of beeswax between 8oz (227g) and 16oz (454g) (see Rule 6)
1210 One comb of honey suitable for extraction, excluding heather honey (see Rule 5)
1211 Honey cake – Exhibitors own recipe. Sweetened only with honey.
List of ingredients to be displayed on a card
1212 One pair of any type of beeswax candles. One to be lit by Judge.
1213 Mounted photograph – B&W or colour, including digital, on any subject relating to beekeeping. Min size (excluding mount) 250mm x 200mm

Wakefield & Ponterfact BKA Classes

Prizes: – The appropriate Trophy

CLASS

1214 Two 1lb (454g) jars light honey
1215 Two 1lb (454g) jars medium honey
1216 Two 1lb (454g) jars dark honey
1217 Two 1lb (454g) jars granulated honey (see Rule 11)
1218 Two 1lb (454g) jars soft set honey (see Rule 11)
1219 Two 1lb (454g) jars heather/heather blend honey
1220 Three 1lb (454g) jars of assorted honey (three distinct varieties)
1221 Two 1lb (454g) jars of honey exhibited by a Novice (see Rule 14)
1222 One comb of any honey suitable for extraction (see Rule 5)
1223 Two pieces of cut comb honey, flower or heather, presented in standard commercial containers. Min Weight 8oz (225g). Place 1 label in top R/H corner.
1224 One cake of beeswax between 12oz (340g) and 18oz (510g)
1225 Decorative beeswax models min of 3 max 6. Area 305mm x 305mm maximum
1226 One bottle dry mead (see Rule 7)
1227 One bottle sweet mead (see Rule 7)
1228 One bottle melomel mead (see Rule 7) – exhibitor to state on a label located opposite side to class label, fruit type and whether sweet or dry.
1229 One Honey cake to the following recipe: –
8oz (225g) self raising flour, 6oz (170g) honey,
4oz (113g) butter, 6oz (170g) sultanas, 2 eggs a pinch of salt.
Bake in 7-inch cake tin, moderate oven for approx. 90 mins.

2023 Results