Our Competitions
Multiple faceting Competitions are run through the year and are suited towards any level of experience. Even the beginner can strive towards the standard of excellence by participating in Competitions that are made available. Our Competitions include an Annual Competition which attracts entries not only from our members but also from other International, National, State, and Club level Competitors.
A Mini Competition is also available for Members Only, who wish to widen their skills at faceting some of the more challenging materials. This Mini Competition forms an ideal entry into Competitions for our members, without the pressure associated with competing in more significant Competitions. The Mini Competition also suits members with any skill level, from the beginner through to the experienced facetor.
Smaller Competitions are also available at each of our Workshops for Members participate with. Plus, we regularly encouraged members to enter other external Competitions at National, State and Club levels. It is very encouraging to see so many VFG members amongst the winners of these competitions; it certainly puts the VFG onto the map.
2026 Annual Competition
✨ Victorian Facetors’ Group Annual Competition 2026 ✨
The Victorian Facetors’ Group Inc. Annual Competition is a highlight of our calendar, offering cutters of all levels the chance to test their skills, learn from judges, and celebrate the artistry of faceting.
Whether you’re a Novice, Intermediate, or Open competitor, this is your opportunity to challenge yourself, gain valuable experience, and showcase your work among peers.
🪞 Divisions & Sections
Novice – “Ruination” (Quartz, coloured) & “Modified Pinwheel” (Topaz, colourless)
Intermediate – “Nine Squares” (Corundum, MM, coloured) & “Nice Try” (Topaz, colourless)
Open – “Pendeloque of Sevens” (Quartz, natural coloured), “Jessica’s Sacred Heart” (Corundum, MM, coloured), and the innovative Free Form Design (O.10.3)
🔹 Special Highlight – Free Form Trophy
Section O.10.3 Free Form invites entrants to create a unique, irregular design blending brilliant pavilion and step‑cut crown. This section is judged on Aesthetic Appeal as well as meet points, with the winner awarded the prestigious Rick Parker Perpetual Trophy for the Robert W. Strickland Free Form Design.
🏆 Awards
Medallions & certificates for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each section
Division Champion Trophies for Novice, Intermediate, and Open
Trophy for the Highest Scoring Entry overall
The celebrated Free Form Trophy
📅 Key Dates
Entries close: 31 August 2026
Results announced: 21 November 2026 at the Marong Workshop
Awards collection: 23 November 2026 (or mailed by 5 December)
💡 Entry Essentials
Entry fee: $5 per member
Maximum of two entries per section (best counts)
To qualify for divisional trophies, entrants must complete both required sections in their division.
📄 Download the full Schedule [here] or from the buttons below.
For further information, please call Graham Young on 📱 0487 283 598.
Free Form Trophy Winners
2025 Trophy Winner – John Honan.
2024 Trophy Winner – Pannarai Volpe.
2023 Trophy Winner – Gordon Woithe.
2022 Trophy Winner – Bill Bennett.
2021 Trophy Winner – John Honan.
2020 Trophy Winner – Cliff Doornkamp.
2019 Trophy Winner – Cliff Doornkamp, pictured above.
2018 Trophy Winner – John Clyde.
2017 Trophy Winner – John Honan.
2016 Trophy Winner – John Clyde.
View the Schedule in a new window.
Download the Schedule to your computer.
The Rick Parker Perpetual Trophy Faceting Competition Winners
Mini Competition
PLEASE NOTE:
This Competition is for Members Only!
INTRODUCTION
Our Mini Competition is quite unique in many ways. This Competition is for Members Only, who wish to widen their skills at faceting some of the more challenging materials. We started the ball rolling by selecting ‘Fluorite’ as the material, and from that point forward, the winner gets to choose the next material to use.
By competing, members will gain valuable knowledge and experience working with different types of faceting rough. They get the opportunity to cut and polish materials that they would not normally consider using.
The competition is run twice (or more) throughout the year and is designed to offer some challenges and fun along the way. The competition is also designed to recognise the efforts of the less experienced too. Having Awards based on three different Classes, the less experienced could quite possibly pick up an Award for their efforts.
The Mini Competition forms an ideal entry into Competitions for our members without the pressure associated with competing in more significant Competitions. The Mini Competition also suits members with any skill level, from the beginner through to the experienced facetor.
DESCRIPTION
The concept is to introduce an internal (Level 1) competition that focuses on different materials outside of what is ordinarily available through outside Competition. In other words, NOT Corundum, Topaz, Quartz, CZ, Spinel or other common materials usually found in a competition.
Why Level 1, you may ask?
- To encourage new competitors without the intimidation that larger competitions create.
- So that a competitor is not pushed up into a higher level when entering outside competitions.
- Keeps the competition within our own members.
Why odd materials?
- The Focus will be on dealing with different and sometimes difficult materials; not necessarily on intricate designs.
- Has the potential to add to Workshop discussions, and to widen the skill-set of members faceting.
- The base set for this competition, good or bad or indifferent, is the same for all facetors; everyone will face the same challenges with the material.
Selection of Material?
- We started the ball rolling by nominating one material. (Fluorite).
- The winner of Class “A” will then select the next material, and so on.
How will people enter the Competition?
- There will be ONE Competition to enter. (Regardless of your ability)
- All entries will be judged using the standard rules and judging process. (Current Judging and rules Manual).
- Judged entries will then be classified according to points into Class “A”, “B” or “C”, with Class “A” being the most experienced through to Class “C” being the beginner.
- This way, the experienced are competing against the experienced, and the beginners are competing against the beginners, so are the ones in between.
How will the ‘Classes’ be determined?
- By splitting the Classes across all entries as judged. In other words, divide the difference between the highest and lowest scoring entries into 3, to set the goal-posts for the Classes.
- This will result in ‘floating’ goal posts that stay in tune with the difficulty of the material.
Other Competitions
Smaller Competitions are provided at each of our Workshops, to help members improve their technique of faceting. We also encourage members to support other external Competitions, including International, National, State, and at Club Level. It is always encouraging to see VFG names amongst the winners of these external competitions.
