Midsummer Celebration Grand Prix 2019 - judged!

 

Results are up! Midsummer Celebration Grand Prix 2019 - Results

GENERAL INFORMATION

        Deadline

        Entries:

          General Rules

• Link your references, legitimate stock only please when closely referencing images. Specify “no refs used” if that is the case. (Remember, just because you can find it on google doesn’t make it free to use- I can probably find your art on google with the right keywords.)
• Fullbody entries. No photo parts or animations. Both traditional and digital drawings are accepted.
• You may submit a maximum of 2 entries per class. A horse may enter both dressage and show jumping, but cannot compete twice in the same class. The same rider may enter two horses in the same class.
• All breeds are welcome, including fantasy breeds. However, this show aims for “realistic” participation, so that use of magic or special abilities is forbidden. Falls and accidents will result in disqualification (you are still welcome to draw them though, if you need it for story purposes!)
  
• This is a grand prix-level competition, so previous experience is recommended but not mandatory.
  
• Be a good sport. If you win, be gracious. If you don’t, don’t throw a fit or shame the winners. If you have a serious issue with the judging, please note us privately.
  

  Registration

Preregistration is not required. However, if you would like to receive reminder notes before the deadline to help you get your entry done in time, send a note to Helsinge with the name of your horse, rider, and class you’re entering.

• Horse name and link to ref
• Rider name and link to ref (if one exists)
• Link to the show journal so we know it’s for us, and which class the entry is for
• Remember to credit your stock or specify if no references were used

CLASSES

Summer Solstice Showjumping Grand Prix

Held outdoors in a grass field during the afternoon. Jumps average 150 cm in height. Appropriate professional tack and attire please, helmets are required. You may design the jumps yourself, creativity is encouraged. We’ll provide a couple of example designs in the near future as well. Keep in mind that the theme is Swedish midsummer. If you’re uncertain of what would fit, ask! We’re happy to help explain the traditions and landscapes.

Midnight Sun Dressage Grand Prix

Held outdoors in a sand arena. Grand Prix difficulty level. Appropriate professional tack and attire please. Traditional white dressage fence. This class takes place at 9 pm; the sun will still be up until just before 11 pm, around the end of the class. (Since it rises again at 3 am, “nighttime” is just a smooth transition from dusk to dawn, without ever becoming completely dark.)

Location, Weather, and Scenery

The competition takes place on Midsummer Eve, June 21st, at Falkengård in Hälsingland, Sweden. The weather is sunny and mild, with the temperature at approximately 20C/68F, but Sweden, and Midsummer in particular, is notorious for rain showers that sweep in without warning and disappear just as quickly. The area is surrounded by pine forests and rolling hills. The trees in the stable grounds consist primarily of birches, as well as rowans, horse-chestnuts, and small apple trees, all of which are currently in bloom. There are a handful of ash and maple trees as well, along with quite a few lilac bushes and early-blooming roses. The pastures and edges of pathways are filled with summer wildflowers- daisies, lupines, red clover, woodland geranium, yarrow, harebells, etc. Fencing is mostly brown post-and-rail, though there are some old sections of gärdsgård fence in some places.

Your background does not need to match a specific section of the stable, this description is intended to help you form your own vision of the scenery and atmosphere of the showgrounds and season.

What else?

A traditional Midsummer meal will take place at approximately 5 pm. All participants are welcome to come feast on new potatoes, soused herring with sour cream and chives, smoked salmon, gravlax, meatballs, Västerbotten paj, a variety of salads and many other traditional Midsummer dishes. Feel free to join in a dance around the maypole (Swedish style of course!), or soak up some warmth in the badtunna - or why not stroll down for a dip in the lake? On your way down, be sure to pick seven types of flowers to put under your pillow - according to tradition, you'll dream of your future beloved. Use the leftover flowers to weave yourself a flower crown! Visitors are welcome to go on a tour of the historic Falkengård estate, and meet the horses and other creatures that live there. Anduril will happily take you sight-seeing by wagon in the surrounding countryside, and for the youngest visitors there will be rides on the Falken ponies. Too nervous to ride? Come pet the smallest Shetland foals, affectionate stable cats, playful Swedish vallhunds, rabbits, ducks and chickens, and Highland and Fjäll cows. The Falken and MHS staff are happy to answer any questions or simply have a chat (keep in mind that any RP or collabs with staff may take longer than the deadline, as time is a limited resource).

Reference Material

JUDGING

Judging method

Each entry will be judged collaboratively by Mistyhills and Helsinge. There is no pre-written scoring rubric, in order to maintain flexibility and open-mindedness. However, we do have some guidelines:

• SINGLE ENTRY. Extras and RP stuff is very much welcome and encouraged, we love your stories! (If you want to RP with staff, or prompt suggestions for celebrating the holiday and hanging out at the show, we’re happy to help. RP between competitors is encouraged as well). However, only your main entry will be judged in the show, as we want to see what you can accomplish when you devote your time to one fantastic entry instead of 20 halfhearted extras. So if RP isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you won’t be marked down for it.
  
• EFFORT. This isn’t your usual monthly mini show. We want to see you at your very best, to see the masterpiece you are capable of creating when you pour your heart into a single entry. That doesn’t necessarily mean perfect anatomy and hyperrealism- what we want is for you to push your own boundaries. Dare tackle those riders’ faces, or skip the premade leaf brushes and do things by hand. Spoil us with all those details you’re usually too lazy to do. If you usually trace, braving something freehanded may speak volumes, even if the anatomy isn’t realistic.
  
• CREATIVITY. Blow our minds. Take a risk instead of sticking to what feels safe. Try something new. Go wild with the Midsummer theme. Catch our attention!
  
• We will also take into consideration other factors like stories, how well you represent the show’s theme in your entry, and whether you follow the rules. Uncredited references, more entries than the maximum permitted, or very poor behavior towards other people in the show will result in disqualification. All qualifying entries will receive a placing.

PRIZES

If you would like to donate art or points as prizes, let us know! (We won’t be including things like designs or breed imports for this show). The following prizes count for both classes:

First place

• 
• Traditional full image of horse and rider with background by Helsinge
• 500
  
• 300 courtesy of Annacaza
  
• 300 courtesy of Drasayer
• Shaded portrait by sokaede
  
• Showjumping class - pagedoll by Murasaki99
  
  

Second place

• 
• Fullbody of horse by Helsinge
• 400
  
• 200 courtesy of Annacaza
  
• 200 courtesy of Drasayer
• Portrait by Toussaud 
  
  

Third place

• 
• Portrait by Helsinge
• 300
  
• 150 courtesy of Annacaza
  
• 150 courtesy of Drasayer
  
  

Fourth place

Fifth place

• 
  
• 200
  
• 50 courtesy of Annacaza
  
• 50 courtesy of Drasayer
  
  

Sixth place

• 150

All participants

FAQ