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Someone entered some PFA in our local produce show and it was disqualified because it was not a potato.  :o :o

Apparently the judges had some kind of manual from RHS.

So please tell me is it a potato?  If it is not what is it? ??? ???

Don't rate your judge much if he doesn't know about PFA
::)

Not a potato?? :o

Even if the judge in question had never seen or heard of a PFA (and if that is the case, why is s/he judging at a show.  ???) surely cutting into one would reveal a potato in all its' starchy goodness?  :-\  

I'd be interested to find out what sort of tuber they thought it was...

If you do a search on the RHS website, PFA is deffinately a spud, no mention of it being anything else.  ???

I bet he/she thought they were Jerusalem artichokes.

Did they use a qualified judge?

Did not see the judges.   But it created a lot of conversation and interest. 

Do you know if that was me I would have been really mad about it.

PFA is a very old variety so hardly a mystery.

I have grown so many this year I have gone off them :(

What a berk!!

I am only guessing but I guess your judge is differentiating between salad and standard potatoes.

An other thing is what did the schedule ask for?

Till those questions are answered I reserve judgement!

The schedule was for 4 potatoes, and since they were not well matched the PFA need not need to win.  But to disqualify them for not being a potatoes was ridiculous.  There was nothing about them being the wrong kind of potato.

QuoteThe schedule was for 4 potatoes,

Not that an exhibitor would but to take this to an extreme you could enter a red, white, PFA and any other and still comply with the schedule!

Quoteand since they were not well matched the PFA need not need to win. 

This doesn't usually happen unless the exhibit is being judged to National standards.

The judge should clear with the committee before judging if a less than perfect exhibit is to be given a 1st/2nd/3rd  as a matter of course e.g. if it is the only entry!

QuoteBut to disqualify them for not being a potatoes was ridiculous. 

Agreed!!

QuoteThere was nothing about them being the wrong kind of potato.

The judge should have left a note or advised  the show steward of his reason/s for judging as he did.

All in all seems the judging left a bit to be desired.

What were his judging standards like in other classifications?

Our judge is always flexible. He goes by the rules, but he'll allow a big courgette in the marow class, and when someone entered 11 instead of 12 shallots, he gave it a prize because it was the only entry in the class and they were good shallots anyway. That's what I think you want for a small show as it should be fun for everyone rather than something deadly serious.

As we all know on here they are potatoes for sure.
They are not show potatoes because of their shape but they should not have been disqualified. That seems a bit harsh.

Local shows should be about the taking part and community spirit but you do need some rules so that people play fair.

Well it created a lot of interest and acted as conversation piece, so it was not all bad.

Did not like my bent french beans, only ones without one snapped in half.  They did all match, length, colour and curvature -  Bendy variety.

You won't win with bendy beans!