Home   News   Article

Caithness County Show: A dazzling display in flower tent





Anne Gunn, of Carsgoe Farm, with her container of mixed herbaceous flowers that won best exhibit in the flower show. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios
Anne Gunn, of Carsgoe Farm, with her container of mixed herbaceous flowers that won best exhibit in the flower show. Picture: Robert MacDonald / Northern Studios

County Show flower exhibitors managed to rise above the generally grey Caithness summer by presenting a dazzling display of colour, with Anne Gunn taking the overall prize for her container of mixed herbaceous flowers.

Flower show convener Avril Henderson said: “We’re delighted with the flowers that we’ve had this year, with the weather and all the rest of it. The weather plays a big part in gardening.

“Pot plants are down slightly this year but floral art is definitely up. It’s excellent – everybody is happy.”

Mrs Henderson reported positive feedback from the public. “They’re delighted with the way that we’ve got everything set out,” she said.

“You never know what’s coming in. On the Friday morning the tent is empty and we’re hoping that it’s going to be full. This year it’s full, so we’re happy with the show that we’ve got.”

The single rose category attracted an exceptional entry of 18.

Sophie Gunn, from Hill of Forss, entered for the first time and took first prize in the novice category on the theme of Box Clever.

“I’ve never done it before so I thought I’d give it a bash,” she said. “I’m pretty happy – I wasn’t expecting anything.”

The flower show trophies will be presented on Thursday, August 29, at 7pm, in Murkle hall. There will be a floral art demonstration by Sandra Coghill of Flower Daze, along with tea, coffee, home baking and a raffle.

Tickets are available from Flower Daze, Avril Henderson (07765 646356) or Lynn Innes (07752 180327).

Four friends who are all part of the Caithness under-18 girls’ rugby squad admiring the best exhibit and some of the other flower show entries. Picture: Alan Hendry
Four friends who are all part of the Caithness under-18 girls’ rugby squad admiring the best exhibit and some of the other flower show entries. Picture: Alan Hendry

FLOWER SHOW

Cut flowers – Six pansies, shown on a board: Liam Bain, Reay; 2 Gladys Gunn, Latheron; 3 Isobel Mackenzie, Halkirk.

Six violas, shown on a board: 1 Liam Bain; 2, 3, Alistair Davidson, Sordale. Four annuals, mixed: 1 Isobel Mackenzie; 2 Carol Grant, Lybster; 3 Marion Sutherland, Granton Mains. One container mixed flowering shrubs: 1 Marion Sutherland; 2 Liam Bain; 3 Carol Grant.

Four stems pinks: 1, 2, Liam Bain; 3 Alistair Davidson. Four border carnations: 1 M Miller, Whitefield, Thurso; 2 Carol Grant.

Four spikes sweet william: 1 Anne Gunn, Carsgoe; 2 Sophie Swanson, Halkirk; 3 Alistair Davidson. One container herbaceous flowers, mixed: Anne Gunn.

One container herbaceous flowers, six of one variety: 1 Isobel Angus, Oldfield; 2 Anne Gunn; 3 Marion Sutherland. One container lupins: 1 Carol Grant; 2 M Miller.

Four iris: 1 Gladys Gunn; 2 Isobel Mackenzie; 3 Alison Reiss, Hill of Forss. Four delphiniums: Anne Gunn.

Any other variety cut flowers: 1, 3, Liam Bain; 2 Gladys Gunn.

Four roses, hybrid tea: 1, 2, Liam Bain. Three spray roses: 1 Avril Henderson, Lyth; 2 Liam Bain; 3 Gladys Gunn.

One container old shrub roses: 1 Liam Bain; 2 Isobel Mackenzie. Single rose: 1 Emma Crowden, Halkirk; 2 Kelly Sutherland, Halkirk; 3 Zoe Sinclair, Thurso. Bowl of roses, any variety: 1 Isobel Mackenzie; 2 Gladys Gunn; 3 Liam Bain.

Six stems sweet peas: Alistair Davidson. Four fuchsia blooms: 1 Marion Sutherland; 2 Carol Grant; 3 Zoe Sinclair.

Trophies – Highland Law Practice Trophy for best exhibit in cut flowers: Anne Gunn. Flower Show 40th Anniversary Trophy presented by Mr and Mrs McPherson, Torrabus, for most points in cut flowers section: Liam Bain. Sharkley Trophy for best exhibit in shrubs: Marion Sutherland.

Silver Trophy presented by the late Mrs Kenneth Duff-Dunbar for best exhibit of herbaceous flowers: Anne Gunn. Silver Rosebowl presented by the late Jim Smith, Bridge of Wester, for best exhibit of roses: Liam Bain. Trophy presented by Mrs E Sutherland, Halkirk, for single rose: Emma Crowden.

Flower show overall best exhibit: Anne Gunn. Reserve: Lorraine Ryan.

Elspeth Sutherland Memorial Trophy presented by her family at Sibmister for overall most points in flower show: Marion Sutherland.

Floral arrangements – Simple and Sweet: 1 Avril Henderson; 2 Margaret Miller; 2 Yvonne Morris, Reay. Pretty as a Picture, arrangement using a picture frame: 1 Avril Henderson; 2 Zoe Sinclair; 3 Yvonne Morris.

Sophie Gunn won the Box Clever novice category.
Sophie Gunn won the Box Clever novice category.

Pot-et-fleur, arrangement of foliage plants and cut flowers in a container: 1 Avril Henderson; 2 Carol Grant; 3 Yvonne Morris. Chic and Unique, arrangement of flowers in an unusual container: 1 Zoe Sinclair; 2 Lorraine Ryan, Thurso; 3 Jane Mackenzie, Westfield.

Arrangement of artificial flowers: 1 Jane Mackenzie; 2 Yvonne Morris; 3 Eva Robertson, Lybster. Caithness Business: 1 Lorraine Ryan; 2 Yvonne Morris; 3 Jane Mackenzie.

How Does Your Garden Grow? 1 Lorraine Ryan; 2 Jane Mackenzie; 3 Yvonne Morris.

Intermediate section – Dynamic Duo: 1 Zoe Sinclair; 2 Clemency Crow, Westfield. Candlestick arrangement: 1, 2, Zoe Sinclair.

Novice section – Box Clever, arrangement in a box: 1 Sophie Gunn, Hill of Forss; 2 Freya Innes, Oust; 3 Judith Crow, Westfield. Table centre: 1 Freya Innes; 2 Donna Falconer, Castletown.

Special section – Hero of the Waves, arrangement celebrating 200 years of the RNLI: 1 Jane Mackenzie; 2 Avril Henderson; 3 Margaret Miller.

Trophies – Helen Smith Quaich: Avril Henderson. Trophy presented by Caithness Floral Art Club, the Wilma Mackenzie Cup: Avril Henderson. Salver presented by Gladys Gunn for most points: Avril Henderson.

Salver presented by Muriel Sutherland: Avril Henderson. Floral Art Club Trophy: Zoe Sinclair. Millennium Trophy presented by Vivienne Williamson for runner-up to best exhibit in floral art section: Zoe Sinclair.

Cup presented by the late Sir Tollemache Sinclair, Bart., of Ulbster, for best exhibit in floral art section: Lorraine Ryan. Rose bowl presented by the family of the late Karen Sutherland, Bower: Lorraine Ryan. Trophy presented by Marion Sutherland, Granton Mains, for best exhibit in intermediate section: Zoe Sinclair.

Trophy presented by Caithness Floral Art Club for best exhibit in novice section: Freya Innes. Trophy presented by Caithness Agricultural Society for best exhibit in the special section: Jane Mackenzie.

Pot plants – One begonia, tuberous double: 1 A Davidson; 2 Marion Sutherland; 3 Carol Grant. One begonia, tuberous multiflora: 1 Carol Grant; 2 Marion Sutherland.

One cactus or succulent: 1 Lewis Mackay, Forss; 2 Marion Sutherland; 3 Emily Innes. One cactus or succulent in bloom: 1 Lucy Wilson, Watten; 2 Julie Lowe, Rampyards; 3 M Miller.

One geranium, any variety: 1, 2, Marion Sutherland; 3 M Miller. One fern: 1, 2, Carol Grant; 3 Janette Swanson, Thurso. One pelargonium: 1, 2, Marion Sutherland; 3 Anne Gunn.

One hydrangea: 1 Kasey Oliphant, Thurso; 2 Gladys Gunn. One pot foliage plant: 1 William Innes, Stirkoke; 2 Janette Swanson; 3 Marion Sutherland. One gloxinia: 1 Anne Gunn; 2 M Miller.

One busy lizzie: 1 Gladys Gunn; 2 Marion Sutherland. Group of three pot plants in bloom: 1 Carol Grant; 2 Marion Sutherland. Hanging basket: 1, 2, Marion Sutherland; 3 Isobel Angus.

Hanging basket, fuchsia: Marion Sutherland. Pot plant, any other variety: 1 Anne Gunn; 2 M Miller; 3 Lucy Wilson. Three pots foliage plants: 1, 2, Janette Swanson; 3 Carol Grant.

One pot lilies: 1 Marion Sutherland; 2 Fiona Sutherland, Sibmister. One streptocarpus: 1 M Miller; 2 Carol Grant. Patio planter: 1 Julie Lowe; 2 Gladys Gunn; 3 Claire Lowe, Rampyards.

Window box: 1 Gladys Gunn; 2, 3, Isobel Angus. Orchid: 1 Isobel Angus; 2 Yardi Cuming, Oldfield; 3 Gladys Gunn. Bonsai: Carol Gunn.

Terrarium: 1, 2, Carol Grant. Plant of succulents: 1 Gladys Gunn; 2 Carol Grant; 3 Lucy Wilson.

Avril Henderson won a first for this arrangement using a picture frame.
Avril Henderson won a first for this arrangement using a picture frame.

Trophies – Cup presented by Colin Campbell, Stanstill, for best exhibit in pot plant section: Kasey Oliphant. Trophy presented by Joan Condit, Humble, Texas, for most points in pot plant section: Marion Sutherland. Trophy presented by Mr A D Clyne, Field Farm, for best exhibit of three pot plants in bloom: Carol Grant.

Todholes Salver for best pot of lilies: Marion Sutherland. A D Clyne Trophy for best tuberous begonia: Alistair Davidson. Shield presented by Ian Coghill, Kirk for best hanging basket: Marion Sutherland.

Marion Sutherland, Granton Mains, Trophy for best exhibit out of classes 25 and 26: Julie Lowe. Morven Silver Salver: Carol Grant. Mrs Gunn, Morven, Trophy for best fuchsia: Marion Sutherland.

Children’s section – Five years and under – Arrangement in welly boot: 1 Aimee Sandison, Bower; 2 Ella (no surname supplied), Wick; 3 Luca Campbell, Thurso.

Decorated stone: 1 Oliver Nicolson, Wick; 2 Connor Mackay, Buldoo; 3 Elsie Hendry, Watten.

Ten years and under: Sea monster, using recycled materials: 1 Alice Wilson, Houstry of Dunn; 2 Olivia Oag, Sarclet; 3 Carrie Macadie, Wick. Flower arrangement in a toy: 1 Iona Warren, Tannach; 2 Carrie Macadie; 3 Sophie Mackay, Dunnet.

Mini garden: 1 Amy Sutherland, Sibmister; 2 Holly Scott, Wick; 3 Rachel Innes, Stirkoke Mains.

Fifteen years and under – Five paper flowers: 1 Meredith Clarke, Dunnet; 2 Aine Dunne, Lybster; 3eq Freya Innes, Oust, and Lily Moodie, Hill of Forss. Arrangement depicting 2024 Paris Olympics: 1 Lily Moodie; 2 Heather Leith, Castletown.

Floral necklace using plant material: Heather Leith. Scarecrow: 1 Emily Innes, Stirkoke Mains; 2 Isla Cambell, Halkirk; 3 Heather Leith. Collection of wild flowers: 1 Isla Campbell; 2 Heather Leith; 3 Jodie Bremner, Sarclet.

Trophies – Trophy presented by Amanda Coghill: Aimee Sandison. Shield presented in memory of Andrew Farquhar for best exhibit in section for 10 years and under: Iona Warren. Trophy presented by the Dunnet family: Amy Sutherland.

Best exhibit in children’s section: Lily Moodie. Lorna Gunn Shield: Lily Moodie. Trophy presented by Mr A D Clyne, Field Farm, for collection of wild flowers: Isla Campbell.

Shield presented by Christine More, The Fields, Ulbster, for most points in children’s section: Heather Leith. Perpetual trophy presented by Barrie Williamson, Clayock: Heather Leith. Shield presented by Sheila Moir, Scarfskerry: Emily Innes.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More