The Society holds annual philatelic competitions that are open to all members. The Society’s competitions will take place at two of the Society Meetings. The competition is divided into categories to encourage participation at all levels of experience, and the ‘rules’ are as simple as we can make them.

A Society Trophy will be awarded to the best entry for each of the following competitions:

1. Roger Blackburn Cup – 6 sheets – any topic.
2. Ashton Presidents Cup – 1 sheet – a letter of the alphabet.
3. Society Cup – 16 sheets – any topic.
4. Gregson Trophy – 9 sheets – stamps.
5. Spencer trophy – 9 sheets – postal history.
6. Cusack Trophy – 9 sheets – thematic.

Exhibits may be entered in any of the following topics (aka philatelic classes):

• Traditional (stamps), Aerophilately, Postal History, Postal Stationery.
• Revenues, Cinderellas.
• Thematics.
• Open (includes Social Philately) and Picture Postcards.

General Rules

• All competitions are open to all members of the society.
• A winning entry from a previous year cannot be entered in the next two years’ competitions.
• Marking for each competition is to follow the marking guidelines of the North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies unless otherwise stated.
• All entries are to be of a Philatelic subject unless the rules of the competition state otherwise.
• Each trophy is to be held for one year.
• Members are responsible for the security of their entries.
• The competition secretary to be sole judge or arbiter of all disputes related to these rules.
• Members may submit more than one entry for any competitions.
• A competition may be cancelled by the competition secretary due to lack of interest.
• If there are less than three entries, a competition may be cancelled.
• Where formal scoring is used, it is normal not to give scores below 50%.
• Marking of competitions may be recorded on forms provided by the competition secretary and returned to the competition secretary.
• Members must not vote for their own entries in any competition.

Individual Competition Rules

Roger Blackburn Cup

• Each entry to consist of six sheets based on the members interests and collection, and cover any subject related to philately.
• Judging is by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation.
  • Condition.
  • Rarity.
  • Treatment.
  • Philatelic Knowledge.

Ashton/Presidents Cup

• Each entry to consist of one sheet, the subject of which shall be a letter of the alphabet, A to Z, which is changed every year, details being given in the programme for each year.
• Each entry may be supported by a short introduction of not more than two minutes by the entrant or the entrant’s proxy.
• Judging is by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation.
  • Condition.
  • Rarity.
  • Treatment.
  • Philatelic Knowledge.

Society Cup

• Each entry to consist of sixteen sheets, the first sheet of which shall contain an introduction and plan.
• Each entry may cover any field of philately except postal history (see Spencer Trophy) and thematic philately (see Cusack Cup).
• The competition should be judged by representatives of an outside Society chosen by the competition secretary. If this is not possible the competition secretary may appoint judges from members attending the meeting who have not entered the competition.
• Marking to be entered on a marking sheet, similar to that below. Marking sheets will be supplied by the competition secretary.

• If marking sheets are not used, then the entries may be judged by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation
  • Condition
  • Rarity
  • Treatment
  • Philatelic Knowledge.

Gregson Cup

• Each entry to consist of ten or less sheets, the subject of which will be chosen by the competition secretary and published in the program for the coming year.
• Judging is by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation
  • Condition
  • Rarity
  • Treatment
  • Philatelic Knowledge.

Alan Spencer Trophy

• Each entry to consist of nine sheets.
• Each entry must cover some field of postal history.
• The competition to be held on the same night as the Society Cup.
• The competition should be judged by representatives of an outside Society chosen by the competition secretary. If this is not possible the competition secretary may appoint judges from members attending the meeting who have not entered the competition.
• Marking to be entered on a marking sheet, similar to that below, supplied by the competition secretary.

• If marking sheets are not used, then the entries may be judged by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation
  • Condition
  • Rarity
  • Treatment
  • Philatelic Knowledge.

Cusack Cup

• Each entry to consist of nine sheets.
• Each entry must cover some field of thematic philately.
• The competition should be judged by all members attending the meeting who have not entered the competition.
• Marking to be entered on a marking sheet, similar to that below, supplied by the competition secretary.

• If marking sheets are not used, then the entries may be judged by ballot of all members attending the meeting. Each member is allowed one vote, which cannot be cast for their own entry.
• The vote for the number allotted by the competition secretary to the entry is to be marked on an individual blank slip provided by the competition secretary.
• Factors to be considered when choosing to vote for an entry.
  • Presentation
  • Condition & Rarity
  • Planning
  • Development
  • Originality
  • Philatelic Knowledge.