Interflora Florist of the Year and Florist of the Future Heats
- 08 November 2012
A number of Interflora florists up and down the country are preparing to compete in our Florist of the Year and Florist of the Future regional heats. Following the success of our prestigious Grand Final at last year's RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, next month will see the start of a new set of competition heats to find our 2013 finalists.
The Interflora Florist of the Year competition has been running for more than two decades and is held every two years to give florists the opportunity to continually develop their exceptional floristry skills and creativity. Previous winners including our RHS Chelsea champions David Denyer and David Ragg have gone on to become renowned international designers, achieving worldwide success and recognition.
The Interflora Florist of the Future competition was introduced in 2000 to nurture new talent within the industry. Today it continues to provide a showcase for florists with less than four years professional experience, to ensure a wealth of skilled, expert florists emerging for the future.
This year's theme for the competition is 'naturally inspired'. During the competition each florist will have to create an original bridal design, a small floral tree and, if they get through the first round, a surprise item which will be briefed on the day. The competitors will be able to complete one of the items, the bridal design, in advance of the competition but will have to construct the other two designs within a set time limit, under the judges' eyes.
Elizabeth McKenna, who works at Flowers by Susan florist shop in West Bridgeford, will be taking part in the Midlands regional heats for the Florist of the Year competition on 4th November in Coventry.
She said: "I'm really looking forward to the challenge and am excited to have the opportunity to show off my creative skills."
For Charlotte Louise Jamieson from Jemini Oxford Ltd. flower shop in Oxfordshire, the Florist of the Future heats will be the first time she has ever competed in a floristry competition. She said: "I'm feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. The surprise item will probably prove my biggest challenge as creating it in front of the judges' eyes will be quite nerve-wracking."
Each of the competitors' designs will be awarded points by a panel of judges including members of the UK Floristry Judges Guild.
We wish all our competitors the very best of luck!
Florist of the Future Competitors for 2012 Regional Heats
Name of Competitor | Florist Shop | Location |
Regional |
Competition |
Isabel Garbett |
Herbarium |
Aldridge |
Midlands |
4th November |
Francesca Gilgil |
Ever After |
Brackley |
Midlands |
4th November |
Sandie Deacon |
Ever After |
Brackley |
Midlands |
4th November |
Amy Manley |
Hubbard’s Florist |
Coventry |
Midlands |
4th November |
Anne-Marie Clarke |
Jeanette |
Blackpool |
North |
4th November |
Olivia Woodward |
Fab Flowers |
Rotherham |
North |
4th November |
Rebecca Hough |
A Secret Garden |
Hartlepool |
North |
4th November |
Samantha Tankard |
The Flower Garden |
Brighouse |
North |
4th November |
Vanessa Carr |
Bridgette’s Flowers |
Manchester |
North |
4th November |
Sophie Watton |
Bleujen Florist |
Bude |
South West |
4th November |
Gemma Thresher |
The Orange Pip Florist |
Williton |
South West |
4th November |
Ana Mitchell |
Wines and Roses |
Pontcanna |
Wales |
4th November |
Emily Smith |
The Flower Box |
Port Talbot |
Wales |
4th November |
Keave Lennon |
Killaloe Flowers |
Killaloe |
Ireland |
18th November |
Fionnuala |
Scarecrow Flowers |
Sandymount |
Ireland |
18th November |
Siobhan Hughes |
George Preston Florist |
Sandymount |
Ireland |
18th November |
Jadwiga |
Cambridge Floral Designs |
Cambridge |
London |
18th November |
Julie-Anne Taylor |
Cambridge Floral Designs |
Cambridge |
London |
18th November |
Tanya Freeman |
Cambridge Floral Designs |
Cambridge |
London |
18th November |
Emily Green |
Carole Langley Flower Designs |
London |
London |
18th November |
Ellie Webb |
Daisy Chain |
Shepperton |
London |
18th November |
Sandrae Pincon |
Rushes Florist |
London |
London |
18th November |
Charlotte Jamieson |
Jemini Oxford Ltd |
Oxford |
London |
18th November |
Shaunny Coyle |
Flowers By Arrangement |
Alva |
Scotland |
18th November |
Florist of the Year Competitors for 2012 Regional Heats
Name of Competitor |
Florist Shop |
Location |
Regional |
Competition |
Jane Lamb |
Tomlinson Flower Company |
Coventry |
Midlands |
4th November |
Donna Thacker |
Tomlinson Flower Company |
Coventry |
Midlands |
4th November |
Katherine Golding |
Ever After |
Brackley |
Midlands |
4th November |
Elizabeth McKenna |
Flowers by Susan |
West Bridgford |
Midlands |
4th November |
Charlotte Baker |
Hubbard’s Florist |
Coventry |
Midlands |
4th November |
Vicky Rymell |
Hubbard’s Florist |
Coventry |
Midlands |
4th November |
Neil Whittaker |
The Design Element |
Manchester |
North |
4th November |
Helen Pannitt |
Helen James |
Harrogate |
North |
4th November |
Pamela Leak |
Flowerfields |
Bentham |
North |
4th November |
Sue Rodgers |
Carol Winn Florist |
Selby |
North |
4th November |
Vicky Mitchell |
Lockwoods |
Sheffield |
North |
4th November |
Jane Hibbard |
Bouquet Florist |
Wareham |
South West |
4th November |
Erica Tippett |
Bleujen Florist |
Bude |
South West |
4th November |
Olga Krylova |
Bloomers of Cirencester |
Cirencester |
South West |
4th November |
Pepi Allwood |
Allwood’s Florist |
Cardiff |
Wales |
4th November |
Charlotte Cooke |
Hilary’s Floral Design |
Abergavenny |
Wales |
4th November |
Karen Sherwin |
George Preston |
Newry |
Ireland |
18th November |
Vinny Yeates |
Flowers by Lucy |
Hebron Ida |
Ireland |
18th November |
Francine |
Tiger Lily Letterkenny |
Letterkenny |
Ireland |
18th November |
Reka D. Kurtos |
Annie Bloom |
Dublin 18 |
Ireland |
18th November |
Linda Bateman |
Flowers By Lynda |
Greystones |
Ireland |
18th November |
Gosia Stencel |
Flowers By Lynda |
Greystones |
Ireland |
18th November |
Valerie Cafferley |
Flowers By Lynda |
Greystones |
Ireland |
18th November |
Adrienn Szentgali |
Flowers By Lynda |
Greystones |
Ireland |
18th November |
Jo Hornsby |
Daisy Chain |
Shepperton |
London |
18th November |
Phaedra Greedy |
Oasis |
Fleet |
London |
18th November |
Samantha Evans |
Jemini Oxford Ltd |
Oxford |
London |
18th November |
Nicola Summers |
Flowers By Arrangement |
Alva |
Scotland |
18th November |
Kelly Dawson |
Flowers By Arrangement |
Alva |
Scotland |
18th November |
Arkadiusz Wozniacki |
Flowers by Arkadius |
Scotland |
18th November |
|
Samantha Kennedy |
The Flower Room |
Scotland |
18th November |
|
Jillian Page |
Something Special Flowers |
Blairgowrie |
Scotland |
18th November |
Gillian Youngs |
Ashdown Flowers |
East Grinstead |
South East |
18th November |
Rebecca Fletcher |
Kanes Quality Florist |
Surrey |
South East |
18th November |
Jade Boiling |
Dorothy Marchant Florist |
Bexhill-on-Sea |
South East |
18th November |
Clare Paine |
Dorothy Marchant Florist |
Bexhill-on-Sea |
South East |
18th November |
Lucinda Knapman |
Broadwater Flowers |
Ferring |
South East |
18th November |
Ashleigh Hopkins |
Ashleigh Hopkins Florist Ltd |
Bexleyheath |
South East |
18th November |
Donna Kingham |
Café Des Fleurs |
Strand Quay |
South East |
18th November |
Source: Interflora - Interflora Florist of the Year and Florist of the Future Heats