Rules - FRANCIRIS® 2005

International iris competition

1. The French Iris and Bulbous Plant Society (Société Française des Iris et Plantes Bulbeuses/S.F.I.B.), in partnership with Técomah (Technical and commercial school of the chamber of commerce and industry of Paris), who will proved technical assistance, is organising an international Tall Bearded Iris competition to take place in May of 2005 in Jouy-en-Josas entitled: FRANCIRIS® 2005
2. A follow-up committee with an equal number of members from both the association (S.F.I.B.) and the school (Técomah) has been created which will meet twice a year, in May and October.
3. Any and all correspondence should be addressed to the competition secretary at the following address:
   FRANCIRIS 2005,
   C/O Michèle Bersillon,
   17 rue du Réveillon,
   F-54330 Vitrey,
   France.
   E-mail: Auxirisaol.com
4. The irises admitted in competition should be sent to Técomah between September 1 and November 3, 2002 at the following address:
   TECOMAH,
   Exploitation Horticole,
   Chemin de l'Orme Rond
   BP 56,
   F-78356 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex,
   France.
   URL: www.tecomah.fr
5. Admission to the competition occurs after the hybridizer declares his/her intention to compete to the secretary, who will then send an entry form by return mail. No hybridizer may send more than six varieties.
6. A number identifying the iris and its position in the garden will be issued by the S.F.I.B. for each cultivar retained for the competition in place of its actual name or seedling number.
7. The participating varieties must not have been registered or introduced more than 10 years before the date of entry in competition.
8. Along with the entry form, each competitor must send a notice corresponding to each rhizome including the code issued by the S.F.I.B., a detailed description of the plant (height, period of bloom, colour(s), etc.) and a photograph of the plant to the competition secretary (M. Bersillon).
9. An iris is considered to have entered the competition as soon as the signed entry documents have been received by the competition secretary.
10. All rhizomes (sent at the expense of the competitor) must be in perfect health and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. The S.F.I.B. cannot be held responsible in case of problems arising either with transportation or customs.
11. Two (2) rhizomes of each variety should be sent. Each plant will be cultivated at Técomah and must remain in cultivation for three years in order to allow the follow-up committee to observe it for three consecutive bloom seasons. Técomah cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to the rhizomes during the three years preceeding competition judgement, including the month of September 2005.
12. If an iris has not been cultivated for three consecutive bloom seasons, it will be excluded from FRANCIRIS 2005 awards, but may be eligible for special awards offered by the S.F.I.B. during parallel criteriums (awards and criterium rules to be specified at a later date).
13. Before sending the plants, each hybridizer must attach labels to his/her rhizomes marked with the code attributed by the S.F.I.B..
14. For each rhizome sent to Técomah, the competitor must include a sealed envelope marked with the code attributed by the S.F.I.B., without any other indication, so as to guarantee anonymity. Inside the envelope, there must be a copy of the descriptive notice previously sent to the competition secretary.
15. In case of accidental loss, the hybridizer will be informed by the S.F.I.B. However, if only one rhizome is left in cultivation for any given variety, it will remain in competition.
16. If a plant that is not yet registered should by placed in the first ten by the judges, it must be registered before the end of the year of awarding.
17. Any plant entered in competition must be the creation of the competitor himself/herself and not the property of another hybridizer, except with written permission.
18. During the summer following the competition, hybridizers may recall their plants or dispose of them. Those who wish them returned by post must pay packing and shipping charges. Those who do not require their return may, at the time of entry, offer their plants to the S.F.I.B. or ask that they be destroyed. At the end of September 2005, all unclaimed plants will become the property of the S.F.I.B.
19. All FRANCIRIS® 2005 awards will be awarded by an international jury (The award list has not yet been finalised).
20. This competition may eventually be repeated at regular intervals depending on results of the first competition organised in 2005.