Ruth (92) makes history with Black Isle Horticultural Society trophy win in a most unusual year when coronavirus challenge was accepted
A GREEN-fingered Black Isle garden lover put herself in the frame for a unique accolade this year with a stunning picture of one of her roses.
Ruth Davidson (92) has been entering the Black Isle Horticultural Society Summer Show photography competitions for over 20 years – and this year won her first trophy.
The long-awaited success is all the sweeter as, because of the coronavirus crisis, she’s the only person to have her name engraved on a trophy for 2020.
Covid-19 restrictions meant that the BIHS couldn’t run its usual show, so it instead ran several online competitions. Only this cup could be awarded.
The group was aware that not everyone is up to speed with current technology and but keen to ensure that wouldn’t be a barrier to entering. Committee member Sheila Maher said: “Most of our show schedules, which list the classes that people can enter, are sent out electronically, but there are people who aren’t online, and so we still send some out by post.
"We wanted to make sure that these people weren’t excluded from the competitions, so I spent a morning phoning round encouraging them to get friends and relatives to help them submit entries electronically if they weren’t online themselves. Quite a few did this - Ruth wasn’t the only one, for example Margaret Williamson from Avoch sent in a photo of a carrot that came second in the class for a peculiar fruit or vegetable.
"Overall, we’re very pleased with the level of participation in our challenges, both from people comfortable with the technology and those who haven’t so much experience of it.”
Ms Davidson said: “I’m delighted to have won this trophy. Fortunately for me, my son Lewis was staying with me – unable to return to his own home in Switzerland due to the lockdown - when Sheila phoned to tell me about the competition. When I took the photo he was able to help me with sending it in. I’ve been entering the show for many years, and I’m so glad that my photo has done so well.”
The group can be contacted at BIHS1955@gmail.com or on 01349 861991.
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