ARTICLES

Nicolaus Peters Wins the 2023 Interflora World Cup

Here's what went on during the final moments of the World Cup and a few words from the victorious German.

By: THURSD. | 13-09-2023 | 4 min read
Floral Events
Interflora World Cup Winner 2023

After a very exhilarating Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Interflora World Cup, a winner was crowned. Nicolaus Peters who represented Germany during this grand event has been named the Champion of the 2023 World Cup and he is absolutely thrilled to take the title home. Learn more about the highlights of the last day of the competition and how Nicolas came to win.

Nicolaus Peters Wins the Interflora World Cup 2023

Glory for Germany as the three-day extravaganza at Manchester Central came to a thrilling close on Saturday, September 9th. Nicolaus Peters has been crowned Interflora World Cup Champion 2023 following a glittering gala final. As said by Interflora, the three-day knockout event staged in the UK for the first time in its history, brought the global elite of floristry together to compete for the ultimate accolade and a £15,000 prize.

 

Germany takes the Interflora World Cup crown
Germany representative Nicolaus Peters being congratulated after winning the Interflora World Cup

 

Competitors from twenty nations from as far afield as Japan, the USA, Peru, and Vietnam, among many other countries were set a series of creative tasks under strict time conditions — some known about in advance and others given as a surprise to test their speed of thought and design skills.

 

Interflora World Cup winner Nicolaus Peters
Interflora World Cup winner Nicolaus Peters

 

Competitors Who Were Part of the Grand Finale

As the excitement during the competition grew without limits, attendees were able to see representatives from countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and Germany represented by Nicolaus go head to head in the Grand Final.

 

Patricia Aguin doing her design in the competition
Patricia Aguín from Spain creating a floral arrangement during the Interflora World Cup Grand Final

 

Nicolaus said:

"I can’t believe I’ve won. It’s still sinking in. It’s an incredible achievement and I’m so proud and overwhelmed."

Elisabeth Pålsson took second place for Norway, while the UK and Ireland's contestant Elizabeth Newcombe, 26, from Guildford, took third place. The final task saw competitors create an arrangement celebrating 100 years of connecting with nature — to an audience of over 600 — including seven previous World Cup Champions, one of them being the second-ever winner Alan Nunn who won the event in 1974.

 

Norway along with Germany and UK finalists
From the left: 2nd place winner Elisabeth Pålsson from Norway, Nicolaus Peters, and Elizabeth Newcombe representing the UK and Ireland with 3rd place

 

Skilled International Jurys Made Part of the Interflora World Cup 2023

Throughout the event, the competitors’ incredible creations were evaluated by a team of 14 international judges and adjudicators managed by the International Florist Organization, Florint. Judge Team President Thomas Ratschker, Dini Holtrop, Alex Segura, Owen Lynda, Pirjo Koppi and Deborah de la Flor. They were assessed on four key aspects of good floristry design: idea, color, composition, and technique alongside how sustainable their efforts were. During this World Cup, the four criteria are ‘weighted’ separately by the jury’s Technical Committee. For example, the aspect of ‘composition’ may allow you to earn more points than that of ‘color use’. In that case, the jury has decided that composition is more important for this particular task. Such a weighting method allows for the most precise and fair assessment.

 

 

Judges Interflora World Cup 2023
Judges Interflora World Cup 2023

 

Technical Committee Florint for Interflora World Cup 2023
Technical Committee Interflora World Cup 2023

 

Florint’s International 100-Points System

Florint has established a standardized scoring system, that professionalizes judging. This system is known as the “International 100-Points System” for scoring floristry design. It is easy to use and transparent, yet sophisticated. The system is being used in floristry competitions worldwide, including at Florint’s famous EUROPA CUP and the Interflora World Cup! 

 

Interflora World Cup event
Competitor Monica Garcia from Peru closely watches the finalists during the last event

 

The flagship event in competitive floristry happens every four years, but this year was the first time it has been open to the public. Held at Manchester Central Convention Centre, alongside the competition, visitors also enjoyed live music, entertainment, and floristry.

 

Floristry and floral designs to see during the World Cup
First-round and semi-final designs by Germany's Nicolaus Peters

 

Interflora’s director of florist services, Nick Priest, said:

"Over the past three days, Manchester has been a wonderful home for The Interflora World Cup. We’ve been delighted to welcome thousands of visitors from across the world who have enjoyed the incredible creativity from the elite of global floristry who are indisputably at the top of their game. We’re so delighted to crown Nicolaus as the winner of the Interflora World Cup and wish him every future success."

 

Finalists and winners being crowned
Event hosts floral designer Per Benjamin and Hannah Jackson with the top three designers.

 

Following the competition, flowers from the contestants’ elaborate displays were donated to Manchester’s St Ann’s Hospice as part of the event's commitment to sustainability.

 

Photos courtesy of Interflora UK.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Can't get enough?

Subscribe to the newsletter, and get bedazzled with awesome flower & plant updates

Sign up