The annual Melplash Agricultural Society’s Hedge Laying and Ploughing Match took place at Bilshay Farm, Dottery in glorious sunshine with the iconic Colmers Hill and spectacular West Dorset countryside as a backdrop. With a record number of competitors, 47 ploughman and 50 hedge layers, the many spectators who turned out to watch these traditional rural skills enjoyed a fabulous day’s free entertainment.
To get youngsters involved the Society’s Discover Farming team ran a scarecrow competition alongside which was very well supported. The spectators on the day were given the task of judging the competition. The team also put on a Discover Farming display as well as giving youngsters a chance to ride on a tractor and if over 13 years old a chance to have a go at ploughing.
Results of the Scarecrow competition (over 90 people voted)
1st – Charlie Vickery
2nd – Tom Baker
3rd – Alfred & Roland Ross
Richard Campbell, President of the Melplash Agricultural Society offered many thanks to Sir Philip Colfox and Symondsbury Estate for allowing us to use this excellent venue, and to all the organisers, helpers and of course the competitors and judges who have made this such a wonderful day.
The section chairman, Tim Frampton, praised everyone who participated. In particular, the many Young Farmers, male and female, who competed. A special mention was also given to the ‘Learn How to Lay a Hedge’ event that was held a couple of weeks before. It was very well subscribed and a number of attendees also entered the novice hedge laying class on the day.
Overall Hedge laying champion : Willow Drew
Best lady hedge layer : Isobel Minshall
Best Young Farmer hedge layer: Isobel Minshall
Overall Ploughing Champion: Barry Dennett
Champion Vintage Ploughman: Trevor Miles
Young Farmer Ploughing Champions: Beaminster YFC
FULL RESULTS
Hedgelaying Judges
Mr Roger Parris
Mr Henry Selway
Ms Rachel Goodfellow
Mrs Sharon Murphy
CLASS 1 – HEDGING LOCAL
1st Tim Frampton
2nd Martin Vickery
3rd Russell Woodham
Cecil A Marsh Memorial Perpetual Trophy awarded to Tim Frampton
CLASS 2 – HEDGING NOVICE
1st Alan Bailey
2nd Isobel Minshall
3rd Roly Boughton
Marcus Beresford Trophy awarded to Alan Bailey
CLASS 3 – HEDGING OPEN
1st Willow Drew
2nd Martin Turner
3rd Steven McCulloch
Elizabeth Lady Williams Perpetual Challenge Cup awarded to Willow Drew
CLASS 4 – LADIES CLASS
1st Isobel Minshall
2nd Lynda Cregan
3rd Katie Maber & Libby Barnes
CLASS 5 – PAIRS OPEN
1st Malcolm Dowling & Duncan Fraser
2nd Jen Newman & Jill Exton
CLASS 6 – PAIRS NOVICE
1st William Baker & Leo Bonning
2nd Dan Phelps & Zak Torode
3rd Alan Martin & Steve Martin
Bartletts (Dorset) Limited Cup awarded to Malcom Dowling & Duncan Fraser
Overall Hedgelaying Champion awarded a Silver Perpetual Cup presented by Cleeves & Edwina Palmer awarded to Willow Drew
The Bill Hook Trophy for Best Lady Hedgelayer awarded to Isobel Minshall
Philip Hardwill Cup awarded to Highest Placed Young Farmer: Isobel Minshall
Tidiest Kept Site: Desktop Henry Hoover sponsored by Pneumatic: Isobel Minshall
Cleanest Cut: Terry Coombe
PLOUGHING
Ploughing Judges
Mr David Ashdown
Mr Michael Hole
Mr Roy French
Mr Malcolm White
CLASS 7 – VINTAGE TRAILED
1st Trevor Miles
2nd Brian Johnston
3rd Malcolm Trott
4th Peter Legg
CLASS 8 – VINTAGE HYDRAULIC
1st Michael Symonds
2nd Scott Symonds
3rd Peter Symonds
4th Roly Collett
Jack Dare Memorial Trophy for Champion Vintage Ploughman awarded to Trevor Miles
CLASS 9 – MATCH PLOUGHING
1st John Harris
BEST STRIKE OUT in Classes 7, 8 & 9 – Prize Card – Winner Trevor Miles
BEST FINISH in Classes 7, 8 & 9 – Prize Card – Winner John Harris
CHAMPION PLOUGHMAN (CLASSES 7, 8 & 9) –THE BLANDFORD & WEBB PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP
Champion John Harris
Reserve Champion Trevor Miles
CLASS 11 – CLASSIC TRACTOR & PLOUGH
1st David Rae
2nd Tony Ascott
3rd Bruce Carter
4th Rodney Atyeo
CLASS 12 – TO PLOUGH 1 OR 1.5 ACRES OF LAND, 2 or 3 Furrow Plough
1st Michael Fooks
2nd Edward Yarde
3rd Simon Cullingford
4th Rick Cook
CLASS 13 – TO PLOUGH 2 OR MORE ACRES OF LAND, 4 or more furrow Plough
1st Barry Dennett
2nd Robert Fooks
3rd John Shute
4th Andy Shute
CLASS 14 – CONTRACTORS CHALLENGE
1st Will Doble
2nd George Doble
3rd Will Fooks
4th Sam Symes
CREED BROTHERS SILVER PERPERTUAL CHALLENGE TRAY awarded to winner of class 14 – Will Doble
CHAMPION PLOUGHMAN OPEN – SIR STUART MALLINSON PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP
Champion – Barry Dennett
Reserve Champion – Michael Fooks
CHAMPION PLOUGHMAN LOCAL – MAS SILVER PERPETUAL CHALLENGE CUP
Champion – Barry Dennett
Reserve Champion – Michael Fooks
Best Strike Out (except Classes 7, 8 & 9) Winner Michael Fooks
Best Finish (except Classes 7, 8 & 9) Winner Barry Dennett
Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup for Best Ploughing using a Case or David Brown tractor using a KV plough. Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup kindly sponsored by GSC Ltd., Dorchester – Simon Cullingford
Prize kindly donated by Francis Bugler Ltd of Beaminster for Best Ploughing by a Ford Tractor – John Harris
NOVICE PLOUGHMAN
1st David Rae
2nd George Doble
Prize kindly donated by Smart Agricultural Services of Dorchester for Best Ploughing with a John Deere Tractor – Will Childs & George Doble
Best In’s & Outs Winner – John Harris
Sam Dennett Perpetual Memorial Trophy – Best Finish with 4 or 5 furrow plough – Winner Barry Dennett
JRB Bowditch Perpetual Challenge Trophy awarded to YFC club with highest score – Winner Beaminster YFC
The annual Hedging & Ploughing Match is an important day in the Melplash Agricultural Society calendar and has been so since the Society’s inception in 1847. The aim is to promote and showcase the traditional skills of hedge laying and ploughing, to recognise the local experts in the area through the competitions whilst encouraging more people to keep these skills going in the locality.
