Sylvia Cup winner Ian Prosser, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NDSF

The old adage, "first time's a charm," applies to the winner of the 40th Annual Sylvia Cup Competition, held Sept. 27 during SAF Palm Springs 2007. After having been on the judge's side of the table in the past, Ian Prosser, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, NDSF, of Botanica International Florist in Tampa, Fla., entered the competition for the first time and walked away with the top prize, $2,500, sponsored by Smithers-Oasis, and an engraved silver trophy.

"I haven't participated in a [design competition] in over 20 years," Prosser says. "I judged [Sylvia Cup] last year and I just wanted to see how it felt to be on the other side of the table."

Prosser, along with the 18 other contestants, had two hours to work on a "surprise" design challenge — a bridal bouquet, wedding centerpiece and hairpiece/body flowers — in the theme of "California Dreaming in the Sixties."

Each contestant was provided with the same product assortment, featuring roses provided exclusively by Eufloria Flowers, also a sponsor, along with lilies, delphiniums, orchids and decorative wire, among other floral tools. 

Sylvia Cup runner-up Katharina Stuart, CCF

Prosser "followed all the elements and the principles of design," says Sylvia Cup judge, Kurt Schroeder, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Delaware Valley Floral Group in Sewell, N.J.  "His components were well organized, they were visually clean, they were well-balanced, and the design had effective color harmony."

Chairperson of PFCI, Sharon Reinking, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, of Armstrong Flowers Inc., in Fort Wayne, Ind., explains that when you go from entry to entry, you might see one or two of the three required pieces that were outstanding. However, with the winning entries, all three must display all the principles and elements of design that the judges take into consideration.

"It felt awesome," Prosser says of his win. "I was speechless and ecstatic."

Sylvia Cup runner-up Linda Zoerb, AAF

Runners up, Katharina Stuart, CCF, of Orchid Florist in Berkeley, Calif., and Linda Zoerb, AAF, of La Crosse Floral, in La Crosse, Wis., each took home $250 prizes. 

Will there be a second year for Prosser? "My philosophy is leave when you're at the top," he says. "You want someone else to have the opportunity to win."

--Kori Kamradt
kkamradt@safnow.org

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