[Woodcarver] When should a carving be retired from competition?

[Jill Ellis]

Hi All,

As I am a woodcarving judge, possibly I can give you all some insite to 
this thread.

First...

Every woodcarving competition whether it is a small local  or a very large 
national competition usually has a list of rules written on the competition 
entry form to be read and heeded to.

Not all shows have the same rules.

In general, most shows state that a carving must be made within the year 
since the last show.......Example... if the show is in May, then any 
carving made from May of the previous year may be entered.

In the rules, there are usually guide lines as to what class a carver can 
enter......Example....Youth, Novice, Intermediate, Open etc......and there 
is usually a sentence stating what THAT show considers each of these 
classes to be.

Some say if you have won 10 first place ribbons as a Novice, then you must 
move up a class to Intermediate and so on.

Others say if you have won a Best of Show in one class in the previous year 
then you must move up a class........

You have to remember that these rules pertain to that particular show ONLY.

So you can have one person entering Novice at one show.....and at another 
they must move to Intermediate......get the picture.

Yes, I have judged several shows in a year and have seen the same carving 
entered time after time.......but, this is that person right. They can 
enter as many shows as they like in a year, and each time they take the 
chance of being beaten by another carver. This is the chance they take each 
time, as just because a carving has won a Best of Show or a first in let's 
say Open......doesn't mean it will win in every show or that the judges 
will award it such because they have seen it again....or because they know 
who carved it.

A good judge will take every carving and judge it by it's merits, not by 
who made it.

And any one entering a competition should do so, with the intention of 
having his carving judged against the other carvers no matter how many 
ribbons a carving has won that he is competing against.

At one show a set of judges might award first place to a certain carving, 
then that person takes that carving and enters in another show, which has a 
different set of judges and he might not even get a ribbon.

Reason......there were other carvings there that were carved better and 
cleaner, or the judges saw something in the carving that other less 
experienced judges didn't see......there could be a multitude of reasons a 
carving does great at one show, but not at another. And just because a 
carving has won a Best of Show or first at one show.....does not put it up 
on a pedestal where it is guaranteed the same results at every show.

This a chance every carver takes who competes......

Some carvers who are trying to win a Best of Show.....will enter 
competition after competition until they do win.....but keep in 
mind......the rules of the show.......if it doesn't say how old a carving 
has to be.....or dates as to when it was made.....then they can enter year 
after year. So read the rules.

There are other carvers who luck out and do win a Best of Show......but 
that is because they had the best carving at that time, at that 
show......and could take the same carving to a different show and not even 
get a ribbon. I know this seems unfair, but that is the way it usually works.

If you have a carving that did win a Best of Show by luck......don't expect 
it to win time and time again....you will just be in for a lot of 
heartache. Usually you will know in your own mind that....hey, I won this 
competition......whew........I was sure glad so and so didn't enter his/her 
carving.......so take the win and retire it.....so that you will at least 
have the pleasure of telling anyone who views it......I've never been 
beat......just don't go into the details that you only entered one small 
show...keep that under your hat.

I also know, and have seen people enter the Open class just because they 
don't want to be judged against so and so.......as they could never live if 
he/she beat them. Meanwhile they were out of their league stepping up one 
or two classes.....then got all in a huff because they didn't place with 
their prize winner from a previous show that was judged at the Novice level.

Competition should be fun......go with the mind set......that if you get a 
ribbon......yippee.......I had the best carving, at that time, at that show.

The next show might be a whole different ball game.

So as far as entering the same prize winning carving show after 
show.....that is that person's God given right to do so...and they take the 
chance of possibly being beaten.

Personally, if I was one who had won a Best of Show with a 
carving.......I'd retire it.......so that no one could say they beat me 
with that carving......but that is my ego.

Not everyone feels the same.....you just have to enter a carving as many 
times as you feel you need to, to  stroke your own ego.

Just remember......different shows, different judges......can make a 
difference in how you place.....and not just for the Best of Show 
carvings......

Let's just hope that whatever show you do enter......you have a judge there 
who will fight for your carving if it merits them to do so.......and that 
they won't bend to the other judges, just to get the judging over so they 
can go have a coffee.

Myself when I judge......whether I recognize a carving or not......whether 
I know who did carve it.......I judge the carvings.....not the person's 
reputation, and if I believe a certain carving should win over another 
carving......and can show the other judges why I believe this......then I 
have done my job.....of judging as fair as I possibly can. I never let a 
carving get a first place just because so and so carved it and they would 
be upset if they didn't win......they are taking a chance every time they 
enter.....and they have to keep in mind that someday someone out there is 
going to beat them......and take the crown.

Remember.....carving is supposed to be fun......competitions should be 
also.......a place to meet people, chew the fat......discuss future 
carvings.....drool over the other carvings...and share your knowledge to 
lesser carvers.

Jill