British Youth Stamp Championships 2012

 Points to note  

The British Youth Stamp Championships are organised by Stamp Active Network, sponsored by Stanley Gibbons, and the entries are displayed at Autumn Stampex as part of the National Competitions. 

The Championships are open to all young collectors up to the age of 21 normally resident in the United Kingdom.

 Entries can be submitted in one of two categories:

Traditional and Postal History – these entries are based on the stamps and/or postal history of a single country (or group of related countries);

Thematic – such entries should tell a story that follows a pre-determined Plan.

 The entries should be mounted on proper stamp album leaves, or on suitable paper of A4 size. However, do ensure the paper is of good quality and strong (flimsy paper will not be able to withstand the weight of the material mounted on it), and MUST be placed within a clear protector – again, please ensure this is of good quality, as flimsy, thin plastic protectors are not ideal when the pages are mounted in the frames. 

The stamps and other material must be carefully and adequately mounted on the pages – do ensure that items do not fall off, or are displaced, during transit. Writing up can be by hand or computer. 

The number of sheets that can be entered depends on the age of the entrant (the age is taken as at 1 September 2012). However, a minimum of 16 pages (sufficient to fill one frame) must be submitted, and it is highly recommended that entries be of multiples of 16 pages.  

The age groups, and number of pages (frames) required is as follows:

Class A             19 to 21 years old                       16 to 80 pages (1 to 5 frames)

Class B             17 and 18 years old                     16 to 64 pages (1 to 4 frames)

Class C             14 to 16 years old                       16 to 48 pages (1 to 3 frames)

Class D             12 and 13 years old                    16 to 32 pages (1 or 2 frames)

Class E              up to 12 years old                      16 to 32 pages (1 or 2 frames) 

All entries must be the original work of the entrant: application forms must be signed by a parent, guardian or stamp club leader.

 Entries are marked depending on the nature of the exhibit and the age of the entrant. It should be noted that entries in the British Youth Stamp Championships are marked to a higher standard compared with entries in the Stamp Active competition. Young collectors exhibiting for the first time might find it better initially to enter the Stamp Active competition. 

The general marking is as follows (the marks will be broken down in each section to better assist entrants – the break down appears in the booklet Have A Go – Show!, but please note that the actual marking has changed since that was published). 

Traditional/Postal History marking:

                         Treatment                       Knowledge        Material            Presentation

Class A              35                                     35                        20                        10

Class B              33                                     32                        20                        15

Class C              31                                     29                        20                        20

Class D              29                                     26                        20                        25

Class E              29                                     26                        20                        25

 Thematic marking: 

                           Plan/Development        Knowledge        Material            Presentation

Class A             35                                      30                        25                        10

Class B             35                                      27                        23                        15

Class C             35                                      25                        20                        20

Class D             33                                      22                        20                        25

Class E             33                                      22                        20                        25

 Medals are awarded as follows:

up to and including 50 points – Bronze;

up to and including 60 points – Silver-bronze;

up to and including 70 points – Small Silver;

up to and including 80 points – Large Silver;

up to and including 85 points – Small Silver-gilt;

up to and including 90 points – Large Silver-gilt.  

Cups are awarded for the best entry in each Class, for the best overall entry, and for the most promising entry.  

Competed and signed entry forms must be submitted no later than 17 August 2012 and must be sent to:

Susan Moore

35 Ventnor Gardens

Whitley Bay NE26 1QB

Entries, carefully packed, must be received by Monday, 3 September 2012 and must be sent to:

Richard West

39 Waverley Avenue

Sutton

Surrey SM1 3JX. 

Entries will be judged during Autumn Stampex. It is therefore regretted that it will not be possible to advise entrants of their awards prior to the exhibition. The awards are presented during the early afternoon of the Saturday of Autumn Stampex (29 September 2011). Autumn Stampex is held at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London (close to Angel Underground Station) on 26 to 29 September 2012. 

It is strongly recommended that entrants and/or youth stamp club leaders read the booklet Have A Go – Show!