Rhubarb Festival Competition Winners

Creative cooks and expert growers from around Dunoon and Cowal, and further afield, showed their rhubarb creations at the 2026 Dunoon Rhubarb Festival.

Across four categories, we saw some impressively giant rhubarb stalks, incredibly tasty jams and chutneys, and show-stopping sweet and pickled creations.

From three-year-old James Taylor and his massive rhubarb stalk to professional cooks, including Dunoon's Rock Cafe and the Coorie Cooks, the entrants showed off their skills.

Word is spreading! Entrants from over the water have heard about Dunoon's Rhubarb Festival and our town's creative and competitive sprit. Marika Causer from East Kilbride came second in the Biggest Stalk of Rhubarb category, commenting that she now has something to do with her massive rhubarb stems. 

Here are the winners.

Rhubarb Chutney winners

First prize: Caroline Davidson.

Judges comments: a fantastic, sharp rhubarb taste.

Second prize: Coorie Cooks.

Judges comments: hot and spicey with a hint of rhubarb

Rhubarb Jam winners

First prize: Hazel Salisbury (Rock Cafe).

Judges comments: really lovely rhubarb taste, sweet but tangy. Want more!

Second prize: Claire and Kirsty, Dunoon neighbours

Judges comments: rhubarb with a tasty strawberry twist. A collaborative entry with Kirsty's homegrown produce and Claire's jam-making skills.

Third prize: Coorie Cooks

Judges comments: a soft consistency with a hint of rhubarb. 

Rhubarb stalk winners

First prize: Lesley Palmer, from her West Bay rhubarb patch which has been nurtured by three generations of women 

Second prize: Marika Causer who travelled all the way from West Kilbride, and it was worth it.

Third prize: Sharon Barr, who had a stalk a bit bigger than her grandson. 

Rhubarb showstopper winners

First prize: Morgan Cooper.

Judges comments: simple and delicious! The first prize was awarded for the simplicity of design, well executed, texture and play on Rhubarb and Custard.

Second prize: Thomas Salisbury (Rock Cafe)

Judges comments: a natural showstopper, second prize was a natural show stopper visually. The rhubarb cream was a delicious surprise and it was close to coming first. 

Third prize: Caroline Davidson

Judges comments: her pickled rhubarb was awarded for its versatility of use of rhubarb)

Highly commended: Kirsty Heron’s entry was highly commended!