Nelson Marlborough Area DOY 2021
‘Let’s Dance’
2021 was perhaps not the year when everyone felt like dancing, but we alighted on this competition theme because we liked the suggestion of movement and rhythm. We had a ballet: ‘The Firebird’ for the DOY competitors; our Annual Erskine Trophy was a waltz: ‘Waltz of the Flowers’; other designers chose to tango with ‘Two to Tango’, or prepare for a dance of the 1920s with ‘Accessorise for the Charleston’.
The competitions took place at the Greenmeadows Centre in Stoke, Nelson, in early November with an exhibition of the designs open to the public on the following day.
All floral art Areas and Clubs have experienced difficulties in organising events during the pandemic and our Area was no different. Our chosen judge was from Auckland, and when it looked like there would be no end to lockdown in the North we had to hurriedly find a South Island judge to step in. Our thanks to Jenny Harris who agreed to come up at short notice from Canterbury for the occasion.
Then, as the closing date for entries approached we worried that we weren’t going to have enough designs to stage an interesting exhibition. Our Area comprises only four clubs, two of which are small. Members from two clubs also have long distances to travel to take part in events in Nelson, and for some that is a disincentive to participation.
But … with a lot of chivvying and slightly changing the rules to make it less restrictive we ended up with not only enough entries to validate the competitions but a great array of designs to show to the public.
The designers excelled and the helpers made the whole event possible. And to those who kept us fed and well caffeinated – we couldn’t have done without you. Thank you to everyone who took part.
Nelson Marlborough Area DOY 2018
The 2018 Nelson Marlborough Area Designer of the Year Competition was held at the Marlborough Centre. Marlborough Club was greatly encouraged to have three of its members take out the top three positions with Barb Higgins being announced the Designer of the Year.
Competitions continued with the Erskine Trophy, a colour design and a well-supported non-competitive petite design, entitled ‘Little Treasures of Spring’. Barb Higgins’ design with a fan shape of wire mechanics stood out as absolutely stunning.
Results
Designer of the Year Competition – Title: Spring Carnival
1st and 2018 Designer of the Year: Barb Higgins
2nd Shirley Roughan
3rd Bev Gallivan
All from Marlborough Floral Art Club
Erskine Trophy – Title: As the Kite Twirls
1st Barb Higgins, Marlborough Club
2nd Janthia Holt, Isel Club
3rd Carol Gowan, Isel Club
Colour Design – Title: Spring, Thy name is Colour
1st Anne Norton
2nd Jill Abernethy
3rd Barb Higgins
All Marlborough Club
