Caithness County Show: SWI members encouraged by membership growth
The County Show SWI tent saw a huge increase in baking entries, while secretary Alison Hill also pointed to encouraging signs of rising membership in some institutes.
There were 260 baking entries, up by more than 80 from the 2023 show in Wick. The sultana cake competition alone had 30 entries.
Handicraft entries amounted to 146, six more than a year ago.
“Our handicraft entries are slightly up and our baking has increased by 83 entries this year, so we’re absolutely delighted with that,” Mrs Hill said.
“The public have been delighted with the display that we have, and the weather has turned up for us as well which has helped.”
Plastic canvas and Suffolk puff sewing demonstrations were put on in the tent and visitors were able to sit down and have a go.
Mrs Hill reported a positive trend in SWI membership in some areas.
“Quite a few institutes have mentioned that their membership has actually increased over the last year or so,” she said. “I was speaking to members that were stewarding from other institutes and they said that they’ve had quite a few new members over the last year, so that’s good.
“Personally I’m in Killimster and the average age is lowering, so we’re getting younger people interested.”
Thrumster won the cup for most points overall per institute, followed by Latheron in second place with Murkle third.
SWI
Seniors – Baking – Sultana cake: 1 Margaret Murray, Killimster; 2 Joanna Mackay, Murkle; 3 Elizabeth Buchan, Murkle. Three Welsh cakes: 1 Heather Carberry, Spittal; 2 A Miller, Keiss; 3 Isabel Harrold, Keiss. Three lemon drizzle cupcakes: 1 Shona Sinclair, Latheron; 2 Iona Simpson, Killimster; 3 Mirissa Efemey, Killimster.
Three individual apple tarts: 1 Carol Grant, Latheron; 2 Joanna Mackay, Murkle; 3 Patricia Murray, Killimster. Three slices of focaccia: 1 Carol Grant, Latheron; 2 Lynn Hendry, Latheron; 3 Iona Simpson, Killimster. Three pieces of no-bake traybake: 1 Julie Murray, Killimster; 2 Jenni Smith, Latheron; 3 Jeanette Coghill, Killimster.
Three slices of banana loaf: 1 W Miller, Thrumster; 2 Marion Gordon, Thrumster; 3 Kim O’Brien, Thrumster. Three bronuts: 1 Lynn Hendry, Latheron; 2 Carol Grant, Latheron; Iona Simpson, Killimster. Three coloured filled macarons: 1 Joanna Ross, Keiss; 2 Audrey Mackay, Keiss; 3 Iona Simpson, Killimster.
Small jar of chutney: 1 Margaret Murray, Killimster; 2 Wilma Swanson, Murkle; 3 Alison Bain, Keiss. Four pieces of fudge: 1 Alison Bain, Keiss; 2 Liz Hewitson, Spittal; 3 M Manson, Thrumster. Three meringue kisses: 1 Joanna Mackay, Murkle; 2 M Manson, Thrumster; 3 Anne Campbell, Keiss.
Novice baking – Bottle of cordial: Jenni Smith, Latheron. Intermediate baking – Fruit flan: 1 Mirissa Efemey, Killimster; 2 Gemma Digurd, Spittal; 3 Kim Murray, Murkle.
Handicrafts – Knitted child’s cardigan: 1 Helen Gunn, Murkle; 2 Lynn Ellis, Thrumster; 3 Janet Corbett, Murkle. Knitted adult socks: 1 Chris Henderson, Latheron; 2 Pat Hendry, Latheron; 3 Kathleen Baikie, Thrumster.
Crochet toy: 1 Jemma Plucknett, Murkle; 2 Lynn Hendry, Latheron; 3 Meg Macgill, Thrumster. Crochet throw: 1 Patsy Macaskill, Mid-Clyth; 2 Lorraine Tait, Thrumster; 3 Alison Hill, Killimster.
Hand-sewn wall hanging: 1 Lorraine Tait, Thrumster; 2 Lynn Hendry, Latheron; 3 Pat Hendry, Latheron. Machine-sewn cushion: 1 Helen Gunn, Murkle; 2 Lis Lavery, Killimster; 3 Janet Corbett, Murkle.
Art – Beach find: 1 Carol Grant, Latheron; 2 Lorraine Tait, Thrumster; 3 Chris Henderson, Latheron. Fantasy world painting: 1 Jackie Phares, Harpsdale; 2 Kim O’Brien, Thrumster; 3 Meg Macgill, Thrumster.
Hardanger item: 1 Janet Corbett, Murkle; 2 Lynn Hendry, Latheron; 3 Alison Sutherland, Harpsdale. Papercraft item: 1 Alison Sutherland, Harpsdale; 2 Jenni Smith, Latheron; 3 Lynn Hendry, Latheron.
Wreath: 1 Lynn Ellis, Thrumster; 2 A Miller, Keiss; 3 Alison Sutherland, Harpsdale.
Novice handicrafts – Cross-stitch card: 1 Eleanor Dunbar, Keiss; 2 Christine Sutherland, Mid-Clyth. Intermediate handicrafts – Pin cushion: Mirissa Efemey, Killimster.
Junior baking – Three Bounty bars: 1 Ella Miller, Thrumster;2 Aimee Lowe, Keiss; 3 Caitlyn Fairweather, Keiss. Three decorated iced biscuits: 1 Aimee Lowe, Keiss; 2 Ella Miller, Thrumster; 3 Emily Henderson, Lybster.
Three cheese scones: 1 Ella Miller, Thrumster; 2 Caitlyn Fairweather, Keiss; Emily Henderson, Lybster.
Junior handicrafts – Crochet hand-warmer: 1 Katie Murray, Murkle; 2 Ella Miller, Thrumster. Button picture: 1 Katie Murray, Murkle; 2 Aimee Lowe, Keiss; 3 Ella Miller, Thrumster.
Sewn tote bag: 1 Ella Miller, Thrumster; 2 Caitlyn Fairweather, Keiss.
Co-operative section – Handicrafts: 1 Killimster, 52 points; 2 Thrumster, 46; 3eq Bower and Latheron, 44.
Trophies – Mary C MacKenzie Challenge Cup for first overall institute points: Thrumster, 250 points. Lieurary Challenge Cup for second overall institute points: Latheron, 212.
Latheron Cup for third overall institute points: Murkle, 157. Shebster Trophy for fourth overall institute points: Killimster, 156. Mrs A Bremner Shield for fifth overall institute points: Keiss, 123.
Mrs Cormack Cup for institute with most points in hand-sewing and hand embroidery: Latheron, 21. Lady Jessamine Vase for institute with most points in baking: Keiss and Thrumster (shared), 91 points.
Bremner Cup for institute under 20 members with the most points handicrafts and baking: Latheron, 212. Silver Tray for institute with most points in co-op section: Killimster, 52.
Cathy Miller Trophy for the best exhibit in co-op section: Julie Murray, Killimster. Elaine Mackenzie Trophy for runner-up to best exhibit in co-op section: Kim O’Brien, Thrumster.
Whaligoe Cup for member with most points handicrafts and baking: Lynn Hendry, Latheron, 46 points. Silver Trophy for member with most points in the handicrafts section: Lynn Hendry, Latheron, 28 points.
Gladys Gunn Cup for runner-up to most points in handicraft section: Lorraine Tait, Thrumster, 26 points.
Bilbster Challenge Trophy for best exhibit in handicrafts: Lynn Ellis, Thrumster, for wreath. Rose bowl for member with most points in knitting: Helen Gunn, Murkle, 8 points.
Lily Mackay Memorial Trophy for best exhibit in hand-knitting: Chris Henderson, Latheron, for knitted adult socks. Julian May Mackay Memorial Tray for best exhibit in crochet: Patsy Macaskill, Mid-Clyth, for crochet throw.
Liz Malcolm Memorial Trophy for most points in crochet: Lorraine Tait, Thrumster, 10 points. Josephine D Gunn Cup for member with most points in hand-sewing and hand embroidery: Lynn Hendry, Latheron, 12 points.
Ethel Jack Trophy for best exhibit in hand-sewing and hand embroidery: Lorraine Tait, Thrumster, for hand-sewn wall hanging. Singer Sewing Machine Company Trophy for best article in machine-sewing section: Helen Gunn, Murkle.
Silver Tray for member with most points in baking section: Joanna Mackay, Murkle, 27 points.
Nicola Sinclair Shield for runner-up in baking section: Carol Grant, Latheron, 26 points. McCallum Rose Bowl for best exhibit in baking section: Shona Sinclair, Latheron, for three lemon drizzle cupcakes.
Silver Tray for intermediate class baking: Mirissa Efemey, Killimster. Silver Tray for intermediate class handcrafts: Mirissa Efemey, Killimster.
Mrs Janet Corbett Novice Cup for most points in novice sections: Jenni Smith, Latheron, and Eleanor Dunbar, Keiss (shared), 7 points. Margaret Roger Cup for junior with most points in handcrafts and baking sections: Ella Miller, Thrumster, 38 points.
Margaret Mackenzie Trophy for junior with most points in baking section: Ella Miller, Thrumster, 20 points.
Margaret Roger Trophy for junior with most points in handcraft section: Ella Miller, Thrumster, 18 points. Emily Fraser Trophy for best exhibit in art: Carol Grant, Latheron (beach find).
Dolly Mowat Trophy for best cake in Show: Margaret Murray, Killimster, for sultana cake. Irene Mackay Memorial Shield for best exhibit in junior section: Ella Miller, Thrumster, for tote bag.
