Judging and how decisions are reached

· Certificates will be going out shortly - please be patient . The judging - please dont shoot the messenger, but I will try and explain how the judges found their overall winners. The judging of each jar is scored in 3 parts 10 points for each sections - Presentation/ Set /Taste. The commercials are judged

as the rules of selling - on what is supposed to be on the jars ie rather than say 50% sugar 50% fruit it should read per 100 gram . It should be noted the exact ingredients and the source of where they came from . As there is more and more rules on emphasis on catering for disabilities now a day -all labels should be in good sized print, instructions of best before dates .Full contact details .And if there is any need to warn people who have certain dietary needs- to me this was a mine field but as I don' sell mine I don't have to comply to rules . Each judge has their own idea of how they judge so lets try and go through what I gleamed Presentation - The overall look of the jar and would you be tempted to pick it up and want to try it. Neat labelling as to what is in the jar so not a label with a mixture of fruit when it is say a marmalade or a curd. . A label with what is relevant to what is in the jar .... mine was pulled up as my labels were not straight and they said little effort had been put in to then - I squirmed in my seat - at least the jars were not sticky but I was truly down marked -but they were peeling off at the corners . Sticky ,over flowing jars are a no no . Jar half full are the same. Now some judges like pretty labels and lids covers others comment pretty covers are just land fill . Commercials sell according to their market .Some judges like big bold lettering, some like them very simple . Then we move on to SET They need to have a nice mix of texture of solids and set equally dispersed through the year . Where the contents can be spooned out and a way it doesn't bend the spoon or be so liquify that it was spill on to your fingers or clothes when you are trying to spread it .And trust me there were one who did . So happy medium is the word here. Now to the TASTE There was 3 judges who couldn't decide between 2 jars .. and in the end they brought in more staff while 8 people gave their verdict . So whoever won that they were scrutinised to the very highest degree. There can be jars which look wonderful -the colour/the presentation and then you taste and especially with seeds they are so hard all you get in your mouth . This is due to being boiled to hard /too long. One lady yesterday commented she didn't think her jar had been open but it had as when she took the lid off it only had a spoonful taken out - the judges dont actually spread it on their toast and use half a jar they pick up from the first taste and then may take a second or more tasting to "dig deeper' . When more opinions are wanted, contents in the jar goes down. Judging can be what hits you when you take the lid off . If it say Apple and Onion but the onion overpowers you it should probably read Onion and Apple . Contents should be well cooked. I can tell you which one I thought looked an interesting combination ... it was what it said on the label but sadly one ingredient had been cooked long enough and was stuck in my throat I thought I was going to choke .There was no one else in the house and I couldn't get it up or down and had to resort to stick 2 fingers down my throat - that is how dangerous judging can be . I saw my life flah in front of me and felt my eyes were popping out of my head .Glad to hear no other judges had the same experience. Joking aside I hope this give everyone a bit of an insight into what and how jars are judged . So when each part is added together it is the highest scores out of 30 which come as the winner in the category There was some amazing jars in every category and thank you so much to you all . So here below we have the overall winner from The Jam Sanctuary - a Grapefruit and Ginger Marmalade which will be stocked in the Newby Hall Shop in 2026 The Founders favourite - which was also Winner of the Sweet Jam section and I didnt mention it to the judge as she went through the jars . A very experience judge so was gald that it endorsed my skills too was from Cedrics of Somerset - The Blackcurrant and Violet Jam. The winner of the Boozy Jam section was Berries with Caithness Gin made by Rose Cottage Kitchen in Nairn . It was judged by the Team at Newby hall and will also be stocked in their shop in 2026 . And finally the other jar on the table was a Cornus Jam /Jelly made by Emma Boden for Newby Hall . It was only when the announcement was made when declaring the winners that we were told that the Cornus had gone to Chelsea this year and won a Gold Award . Again this give the judges so much clarity they are judging in the right way and giving an honest a review as they can .