Wizardry in Wood Exhibition and Biennial Turning Competitions 2025
Biennial Competitions
When: 27th October, judging day; 28th to 31st October, public viewing and purchasing days, 29th October late opening until 7pm, 31st October, prize giving 4pm, tickets available through Eventbrite.
Where: Plaisterers’ Hall, 1 London Wall, London EC2Y 7DE (map)
Timings: Competition pieces need to be at the Hall by noon on Monday 27th October. The Hall will be open at 9am if you are coming in person. The public viewing and purchasing days will be from 10 am until 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 10 am until 7pm on Wednesday, 10 am until 4pm on Thursday, 10 am until 3 pm on Friday.
Book: Tickets available through Eventbrite
Introduction
The Worshipful Company of Turners holds its turning competitions every two years. They attract entries from turners of all ages and skill. There should be a competition for you, whatever your interest or proficiency.
This page provides a summary of the eleven competitions. Linked pages provide more detail and online entry forms.
The competitions are organised by the Turners’ Company in association with the:
How to Enter
Rules and entry forms can be found on each competition page (links below).
There are also General Conditions of Entry that apply to all competitions.
A. The Worshipful Company of Turners’ Competitions
• The Master’s competition – the theme for 2025 consists of three elements: sustainability; innovation (pushing boundaries with materials/techniques/forms); and community (that could mean collaboration or diverse participation).
• Open Competition (Felix Levy Trophy) – A hand-turning competition open to all (ornamental and rose engine turning excluded), no restriction as to subject, size or style.
• Members Competition (Bert Marsh Plate) – A hand-turning competition open to all members of the WCT who are amateur turners, no restriction as to subject, size or style.
• Certificate Competition (Nic Somers Bowl) – A hand-turning competition, open to all those awarded the Company Certificate in Turning, no restrictions as to subject, size or style.
• Yeomen’s Competition – A themed turning competition open to all Yeomen. The theme matches the Lord Mayor’s priorities which for 2025 are: ‘ambition, renewal and growth’. No restrictions as to subject, size or style.
B. Competitions organised in conjunction with the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. Open to members of the AWGB
C. Competitions organised in conjunction with the Society of Ornamental Turners. Open to members of the SOT
• Ornamental Turning (Lady Gertrude Crawford Trophy) – for conventional ornamental turning.
• Rose Turning (Fred Howe Trophy) – for rose turning or a combination of ornamental and rose turning.
• SOT Plain Turning (H E Twentyman Trophy) – predominantly plain turning, but with a discrete element of ornamental turning.
D. Competition organised in conjunction with Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Greenwood Workers. Open to members of the APTGW
- Pole Lathe, One competition, to produce a piece on a pole lathe
This competition is being held at Bodgers Ball in May 2025, entries will be displayed at Plaisterers’ Hall.
Key Dates
Monday 29th September
- Entry forms must be received by the Assistant Clerk by close of business on Monday 29th September. If you submit your entry after this date, we cannot guarantee that your piece(s) will be entered into the competitions
Monday 13th October
- Items being delivered by post or courier should arrive at the Company offices in Saddlers’ Hall, no later than 5pm on this date.
- Please refer to General Conditions of entry 2025 for further details
Monday 27th October
- All entries must be at Plaisterers’ Hall by noon. Please don’t bring anything in person without having previously submitted an entry form before 29th September. No pieces will be entered into the competitions without an entry form provided before 29th September.
Friday 31st October
- 10 am – 3.00 pm public view
- 3.00 pm prize giving ceremony
- Entries which have not been sold may be collected from Plaisterers’ Hall after the prize giving ceremony.