The British Florist Association is proud to announce the return of the bi-annual BFA Young Florist of the Year Competition. The overall winner of the UK heats will compete with all the other European finalists in the 'Eurofleurs 2010' competition to be held at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. See the bottom of this page for images of the final, and also click here for an image gallery of the qualifying heat and semi final. The current BFA Young Florist is the Year is Joe Massie, who won the inaugural Maurice Evans Cup in 2007 and went on to compete last year at Eurofleurs. Joe is also the Young Chelsea Florist of the Year 2009.

The Final

Held at the Paragon Hotel in Birmingham, during BFA FleurEx. The BBC were on hand and filmed each competitor, as the winning competitor will be filmed throughout the build up to EuroFleurs 2010 next July. See the bottom of the page for more images. The competition had five sections: Handbag, Free Expression, Table Arrangement, Hand Tied Bouquet, Overall Display.

The winners of each section were:

Image courtesy of Austin Clark, Wordhouse Publishing 

The Semi Final

The semi final was be held on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2009 in the competition arena of the BFA Marquee at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. Participants had to create five pieces in front of a large live audience, and on camera, which really put the competitors in the spotlight. The tasks were; Design and create a hand tied presentation bouquet to be given to the wife of the EU President; Design and create a free expression arrangement to stand in the reception area at the European Heads of State Banquet to celebrate the European Year of Creativity and Innovation; Design and create a body accessory for a guest to wear at the banquet for the European Heads of State to celebrate the European Year of Creativity and Innovation; Design and create a memorial tribute to celebrate the lives of famous European poets; Surprise Item, which was a paper parasol to be decorated.

Congratulations to the five competitors who go through to the final:
AMY CURTIS-WHITFIELD, ERICA TIPPETT, JOSEPH MASSIE, LAUREN CURRY, EMMA STEVENSON

Special congratulations to Jade Donnelly of the Tomlinson Flower Company, who qualified for the final, but has made the difficult decision to withdraw as her baby is due in late October.

The Qualifying Heat

Held at the Paragon Hotel, Birmingham on Sunday May 10th. The competitors were tasked with designing and creating a piece of jewellery to be worn at a summer ball to mark the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

Judge Lynda Owen was impressed with the standard of entries, remarking that four entries received scores in the 90's (out of 100) which was "unusual". Whilst Lynda was judging, competitors and guests were entertained with a demonstration by BFA Events Director (and veteran floristry demonstrator) Dennis van Wonderen. BFA President Mark Ward presented certificates of entry to all competitors, and encouraged all entrants to keep entering competitions, "These young people are the future of floristry, and it is important we encourage them to develop their talents. We have seen some wonderful pieces of floristry here today."

These ten competitors will go forward and compete in the Semi-final at RHS Tatton Park on the 22nd and 23rd July.

(Competitors listed in alphabetical order by first name, not in order of placement. There is no first/second/third awarded at this stage of the competiton.)

Competiton Notes

Competitors will need to be born after the 25th July 1985 and remain in continous employment or studies until the final in 2010.