A ‘wonderful’ day was had by all at the Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual hedgelaying and ploughing match.
It took place at Wyke Farm in Chedington and the site was in a field which had self-sown a ley of clover, following the harvesting of the wheat.
The clover covering to the field kept all the tractor wheels and the wellington boots clean, the surrounding hedge was a typical Dorset hedge with lots of thorn, holly, ivy and hawthorn.
It has been 177 years since the first Melplash Agricultural Society’s ploughing match took place in Melplash.
Some 41 ploughmen entered into the six ploughing classes, and four entrants in the mechanical flail hedge trimming class, there were also 35 entries in the hedge laying competitions.
Prior to the match, the society hosted a free hedgelaying taster day which was attended by competitors Charlotte Marshall and Neve Bray, who learned how to lay hedges Dorset style – They won the novice pairs class.
Philip Hardwill, Melplash Agricultural Society Chairman, said: “All classes were well supported, and the competition was keen with a good number taking part for the first time.
“The standard of both the ploughing and hedgelaying was extremely high. It was great to see a field of happy competitors and spectators enjoying a fine day on a beautiful site.
“Our thanks go to the Hedgelaying and Ploughing Chairmen, Tim Frampton and Russell Woodham, to our hosts Mr and Mrs Appleby and Mike and Mark Tilley, to the judges who kindly gave up their time to be with us, our secretary, Lucy Hart and our volunteer stewards who ensured that the day ran smoothly.
“I would especially like to thank all of the competitors whose enthusiasm for the competition and for these traditional agricultural skills, enabled the Society to provide a demonstration to our visitors on the day, showcasing some of the tasks that are vital on every farm.”
Results are as follows:
Ploughing Results
Judges: Mr Ashley Gale, Tiverton, Mr Richard Curtis, Bridgwater, Mr Malcolm White, Yeovil, and Mr John Kerslake, Tiverton
Best Turned Out Tractor & Plough judged by Mr Michael Hole.
Class 8 - Vintage Trailed:
1st Alan Hayball
2nd Ceri Johnston
3rd Andy Stacey
Class 9 - Vintage Hydraulic
1st Michael Symonds
2nd Nigel Stewart
3rd Geoff Fry
Trophies & Special Prizes
Champion Vintage Ploughman and winner of The Jack Dare Memorial Trophy – Alan Hayball
Best Strike Out in Vintage classes – Alan Hayball
Best Finish in Vintage classes – Ceri Johnston
Champion Ploughman in Vintage and match ploughing classes & winner of the Blandford & Webb Perpetual Challenge cup – Alan Hayball
Best Ins and Outs in classes – Alan Hayball
Class 11 - Classic Tractor & Plough (without Q cab)
1st Malcolm Selby and winner of the Tony Ascott Perpetual Challenge Cup
2nd David Rae
3rd Michael Crabb
Class 12 - Tractor & hydraulically operated 2 or 3 furrow plough
1st John Harris
2nd Michael Fooks
3rd Mark Symonds
Class 13 – Tractor & hydraulically operated 4 or more plough
1st Barry Dennett
2nd John Shute
3rd Will Doble
Class 14 – Contractor Challenge – reversible ploughs to use both left and right hand board
1st Bernard Hayball winner of Creed Brother’s Seaborough Salver
2nd Adrian Holloway
3rd Alex Norman
Class 15 - Mechanical Flail Hedge Cutting
1st Kieron Roberts
2nd Stuart Hyslop
3rd Jonathan Colebird
4th Richard Rowe
Trophies & Special Prizes
Winner of The Streatfeild Perpetual Cup to Best YFC Ploughman – Ceri Johnston, Marshwood Vale YFC
Winner of the Interclub Silver Perpetual Cup for highest placed YFC – Crewkerne YFC: Georgia Pagett, Jake Pagett and Tom Baker.
Champion Ploughman (Open) and winner of Col. Sir Stuart Mallinson cup – Malcolm Selby
Champion Ploughman (Local) and winner of silver perpetual Challenge Cup – David Rae
Best Ins & Outs - Malcolm Selby
Best Strike out - Malcolm Selby
Best Finish – David Rae
Best Ploughing with Case International Case or David Brown with Kverneland Plough presented with Silver Perpetual Challenge cup – Alex Norman
Best Ploughing with Ford New Holland – Malcolm Selby
Best Ploughing with a John Deere Tractor presented with a special prize donated by Hunt Forest Group, Dorchester – Bernard Hayball
Sam Dennett Perpetual Memorial Trophy presented by the family for the best finish with a four or five furrow plough – Barry Dennett
Novice Ploughman
1st Ceri Johnston
2nd Noah Doble
Best Turned-out Tractor & Plough presented with a bottle of whisky donated by Mr Roy Vickery – Trevor Miles
Hedgelaying Results
Judges: Mr John Vickery, Honiton, Mr Kevin Goodfellow, Bridport, Mr Roger Vickery, Thorncombe and Mr Peter Yeates, Bridport, Mr Chris Stanton, Ashburton.
Chief Steward: Mrs Mandy Woodham
Chainsaw Steward: Mr Mark Tilley
Class 1 – Hedgelayer – Open class
1st Andy Burrough and winner of The Elizabeth Lady Williams Challenge Cup
2nd Terry Coombe
3rd Tim Frampton
Class 2 – Novice Hedgelayer
1st Catherine Carter and winner of Marcus Beresford Trophy
2nd David Clark
Class 3 – Intermediate Hedgelayer
1st Lydia Lee and winner of Bodger John Trophy
2nd Neil Gemmell
3rd Mike Baker
Class 4 - Open Pairs
1st Rob and Josh Sturmey and winners of The Bartletts (Dorset) Ltd Cup
2nd Nigel Dowding and Chris Childs
3rd Richard Hooker and George Pidgeon
Class 5 - Novice Pairs
1st Neve Bray and Charlotte Marshall and winners of the Shedbush Farm Trophy
2nd Graham Adams and Rory Francis
3rd Edward Stantiford and Oliver Bagwell
Trophies and special prizes
Champion Hedgelayer and winner of the Cleeves & Edwina Palmer Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup – Andy Burrough
The Cecil A Marsh Challenge Cup for the Best Local competitor – Tim Frampton
The Philip Hardwill Trophy for highest placed Young Farmer – Edward Stantiford, Beaminster YFC
The Bill Hook Trophy for the best Lady competitor – Lydia Lee
The Russell Woodham Bill Hook Trophy for best hand tool competitor – Edward Stantiford & Oliver Bagwell
Best work on a poor length of hedge – Mike Baker
Overall Best Veteran competitor aged 65 years and over – Terry Coombe
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