diff --git a/register_judges.php b/register_judges.php
index 1e32d35..18a64af 100644
--- a/register_judges.php
+++ b/register_judges.php
@@ -244,11 +244,16 @@
  {
  	//Lets check the date - if we are AFTER 'judgeregopen' and BEFORE 'judgeregclose' then we can login
 	//otherwise, registration is closed - no logins!
-
-	$q=mysql_query("SELECT (NOW()>'".$config['dates']['judgeregopen']."' AND NOW()<'".$config['dates']['judgeregclose']."') AS datecheck");
-	$r=mysql_fetch_object($q);
-	//this will return 1 if its between the dates, 0 otherwise.
-	if($r->datecheck==1)
+	$now = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
+	if($now < $config['dates']['judgeregopen']) 
+	{
+		echo i18n("Judges registration for the %1 %2 has not yet opened",array($config['FAIRYEAR'],$config['fairname']),array("Fair year","Fair name"));
+	} 
+	else if($now > $config['dates']['judgeregclose']) 
+	{
+		echo i18n("Judges registration for the %1 %2 is now closed",array($config['FAIRYEAR'],$config['fairname']),array("Fair year","Fair name"));
+	}
+	else
 	{
 		if($config['judge_registration_type']=="invite")
 		{
@@ -279,10 +284,6 @@
 		<?
 
 	}
-	else
-	{
-		echo i18n("Judges registration for the %1 %2 is now closed",array($config['FAIRYEAR'],$config['fairname']),array("Fair year","Fair name"));
-	}
  }
  send_footer();
 ?>