I have taken several blooms of La France to rose shows. They were very good blooms of La France. I took them to educate.
Every time, after judging, I'd find them scooted to the back of the table, the way judges move them as "not worth looking at".
(If you clerk at shows you learn that judges concentrate on what wins, not necessarily what's interesting or different unless it has a high pointed center that they might want to grow for their own competitions.)
As to the gallicas and centifolias in Texas, exhibitors (aka the people who go to rose shows) if they are interested in a rose they haven't seen before will copy the name, do a quick look to see if this has won Dowager Queen before, if it hasn't, they won't add it to their gardens.
A better display of blooms in general flower shows, at your local library (with a list of books that talk about them) or some other place where real people congregate will spread the love of roses more.
My very limited $0.02.

Well, we all have our "hobby horses," and takes on rose show judges. I know that when I judge, I always make my picks according to the guidelines and the specimens themselves. I never shy away from the "out" crowd. If the blooms have merit and are worthy, I select them. Also, OGRs normally have a particular section to themselves in a show. They are not all thrown together with the HTs and floribundas. I do push some to the back of the table, but only after I have looked at them carefully, and found them wanting. I then have a clerk move others up to be looked at. Remember, we are supposed to be picking the best of the lot to go to the table, which doesn't mean that others aren't equally worthy. Just not at that show. Others may grow what is "fashionable" in order to win the harware, but before I started judging I never did. I still grow what I want to grow and what does best for me in my garden. I am not a so-called "Hardware Hunter."

Actually, the point of rose shows is supposed to be educating the public on the different types of roses that can be grown in the area of the show. Supposed to be. Judges are looking for the "winners" but after they have been moved to the "table" then it is up to the show runners to restage the tables where the rest of the entries are located, and to make sure that they are somewhat accessable to the viewing public. That's what I try to do at our show. Because these stems are closer and not so "hands off", people smell them and look at the tags and ask where they can be bought. And I try to hang around to answer those types of questions, and keep a list of internet resources at the education table. But then, I am an alien creature. I think I'll put up a sign at the education table that says "Ask us where you can find these roses". Or throughout the tables. Yeah...

I also judge rose shows. I always try to go without any preconceived ideas as to what should win because to be fair you cannot. I tend to grow mostly roses that have stood the test of time rather than the current fad roses although I have a few of the show HTs in the yard. I like to judge the OGRs because I try to have an appreciation for what they are even if I don't know much about a particular variety and don't consider it some kind of punishment to get stuck with OGRs, shrubs, and climbers. I have in the process seen some really neat OGRs that are now in my garden that might not otherwise be there if I hadn't asked for the OGRs. Two of them that come to mind are La Belle Sultane and Marbree. I will say that I think that when it comes to older hybrid teas, including La France, that there ought to be a division in the hybrid tea classes for formal vs informal/decorative form flowers. That way the bias in the judging rules could be set aside.

I have resisted the thought of putting out the energy to get certified as a judge because HTs flood our rose show tables.

I have thought I would flood the tables with the four little catagories that I have, but I am a lazy wuss and the judges have no idea of what I am bringing anyways.

"Best of show" would be a cool addition as they have denied me a class for Austins. Buck roses would be just dandy also.

Probably the future of rose shows lies in the classes of Miniature and Miniflora roses. A lot of new ones are coming out. They do not take up a lot of space. Winning a Queen of Minifloras is kind of cool. Better than plastic roses.

It is kind of silly in that I grow garden roses for the most part. I enjoy having folks over, but rose shows are becoming a lot of work with little reward. Judges are going to be very hard to find in the near future.

IJ, you don't have a "Shrub" or "Modern Shrub" class (that's where most "Austins" would go, most of them are formally classed as S = "Shrub")? In our fall shows, the "Classic Shrub", "Modern Shrub" and "Floribunda" classes have the most entries. We get a LOT of minis too.

I kind of like the idea of having a class of Antique HTs, those currently out of favor. Cool idea!

Diane, I am greedy bird, that is only three sets of hardware plus the Dowager and Victorian, of course. I want more, more, more!

Saddam Foghorn

We give hardware for "Best Modern Shrub" (Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to be working on the web version of our schedule...) you should come out! ;-))

Yes, we have awards for classic shrub, modern shrub and species as well as dowager and victorian. Some shows have award for best OGR (combinging dowager and victorian classes). We also have a couple of trophies for collections of OGR - and an OGR artist palette entry. And they qualify for floating bowl classes. And most fragrant rose.
Let's see now, that's 9 trophy classes. Also best of show which makes 10.
If you want more trophies for OGR, make up a challenge class and donate a trophy. But first you have to get people to enter them. In our show, OGR's are a BIG part of the show and shrubs the next biggest.

"Class 20
Rose in a Bowl
One Hybrid Tea or Grandiflora (bloom only) floating in clear water, in a clear glass bowl, shown in exhibition stage. No stem or foliage; sepals may be trimmed.

Class 21
Miniature or Mini-Flora Rose in a Bowl
One Miniature or Mini-Flora (bloom only) floating in clear water, in a clear glass bowl, shown in exhibition stage. No stem or foliage; sepals may be trimmed."

Never had any luck in the fragrant rose catagory, which is always been a puzzle for moi to understand. I guess the 30% on form knells any serious consideration for this puppy.

I like your rose show format better.

As I made a total A$$ of myself when we were showing saddlebred horses, DW would only let my join ARS if I agreed not go totaly insane - again - wandering around the country. She likes her weekends.

I timorously mentioned St. Louis and got the "look." I am amazed that I survived the ordeal.

Those of you going, have fun!

Foghorn

Foghorn,
We let the public judge the most fragrant catagory with little or no concern for exhibition form. Since we began this many years ago There have been no arguments about the eventual winner who is announced just before the awards presentation.

Maybe you can convince DW to let you vacation in Wickford Rhode Island--they offer lots of trophies for non-HT roses.
They offer the Austin trophy you want--there was a whole table of entries last June. Their fragrance award is also by popular vote.

Here is a link that might be useful: 2007 Rhode Island Rose Show Schedule

Our fragrance class (it is a Challenge class for fragrant HTs) is jugded on fragrance alone. Form doesn't count. We had a fragrant mini Challenge class (I sponsored it), but no one entered so I changed it.

Your most fragrant hybrid tea rose. One entry per garden. Award will be made on fragrance alone. The rose must be named.

I guess my question would be who cares whether more people grow what I grow? I am more than happy with my roses, and do not need affirmation from others as to what I am growing. If people like it, I'll help them acquire it, if not, oh well.

You even have Class 23 Â Brownell Roses. Cool!

The great thing about shows is that it is a gathering of the loonies in which we bring to the table a perfect rose or a trained, turned out horse and rider or whatever.

It is that WOW factor and a chance to root for our favorite barrel racer. I remember saying WOW looking at the BOS at several horticulural shows. I haven't made the hosta ones, yet. DW hates hostas.

Shows are just fun to go to. I also enjoy the 4H stuff at the fairs, and still take in a horse show (just looking) now and then.

Let 'em RACK!

Foghorn

mgleason56, I am the same way with my Gallicas in north Texas. However, I like to show off my old European roses to prove that they CAN grow here.
***

How many have been persuaded on GW rose forums to buy the roses they have (not even seeing the real thing)? At least at a show there are local growers who can provide local feedback about their roses.

I believe if more people showed more unusual roses other than hybrid teas, the ARS will notice and change.

The number of classes for OGR and shrubs depends on the number of roses entered. If there are only a few entries, no reason to have numerous classes or awards. The way to expand the show is to bring more roses - the judges will usually divide a big class into categories and judge it accordingly. I can remember going to a show many years ago with only one class for old roses and something like 35 or 40 entries. We divied it up by type of rose, created 8 more classes on the spot and went on from there. The following year the schedule reflected the change.
Shows ARE educational as they expose the rose growing public to more kinds and also show how roses can be grown locally. Plenty of times I see visitors to a show taking notes on what to order. and I get a kick out of challenging judges with varieties they never saw before. Good judges will 'look it up.' The same way I do with hybrid teas which all look alike to me (just kidding!)

It's interesting to hear the comment, "That's a rose?", from visitors to the show when they view an OGR or unusual looking rose they've not seen before.
Believe it or not some people are turned off by the high centered formal look of hybrid teas. They're not interested in growing these perfect specimens.
Many people tell me they've been turned on to roses due to seeing the many types and colors at our rose show.
That's what it's all about, educating the public and generating interest in roses. The competition is fun but not the whole purpose for the show.
The cut throat hardcore exhibitor who's just collecting trophys and only growing exhibition winning roses takes much of the fun out of a rose show. They've lost sight of the reason for the show.

I like the idea of having a category called, " the no-groom rose" and having the public select the winner each year.

How about a class called "most unusual"? I clerked at many shows and learned how to better care for my bushes.

Education is key to the expanse of growing these beauties.