This year’s Melplash Agricultural Society’s annual Hedgelaying & Ploughing Match took place in almost perfect weather – not only good for the competitors but also for the many spectators who came along to watch this traditional rural spectacle. The Match took place at Hingsdon, near Netherbury, by kind permission of James Bowditch, Elizabeth and Louis Findlay and Messrs Symes, and attracted entries from as far away as the Forest of Dean and the Isle of Wight, with plenty in between!
There was an excellent turn-out in all the hedgelaying and ploughing classes with over 80 entries, and over 70 entries in the Society’s Farm Produce competitions. Alongside there was a tug- of- war competition and a Discover Farming display. The Society also hosted the 2020/21 Dorset Young Farmers Hedgelaying Competition organised by Beaminster YFC.
Tim Frampton, Hedgelaying and Ploughing Section Chairman commented, ‘We are so pleased that we made the decision to hold this year’s Hedging & Ploughing Match. It was worth it to see so many people supporting and enjoying the day. We are fortunate to have some loyal local ploughmen and hedgers who are not only experts in what they do but are passionate about keeping these traditional skills alive. It is their support and commitment that enables the annual match to go ahead and helps us to pass on the skills to the next generation. It is a serious competition but also a good opportunity to meet up with friends and neighbours….. something that many of us have not been able to do as there has not been a Melplash Show due to the pandemic. I would like to thank all those that have helped to make the day a success including the Hedgelaying & Ploughing committee and stewards, our sponsors, the landowners for allowing us to use their land and of course all the competitors who we hope to see again next year.’
2021 Results
Ploughing
Class 8 – Vintage Trailed:
1st David Cobb
2nd Vince Legg
3rd Malcolm Trott
Class 9 – Vintage Hydraulic
1st Michael Symonds
2nd Peter Symonds
3rd Rodney Cuff
Trophies & Special Prizes
Champion Vintage Ploughman and winner of The Jack Dare Memorial Trophy – Michael Symonds
Best Strike Out in Vintage classes – Vince Legg
Best Finish in Vintage classes – David Cobb
Champion Ploughmen in Vintage ploughing classes & winner of the Blandford & Webb Perpetual Challenge cup – David Cobb
Best In’s and Outs in classes – David Cobb
Class 11 – Classic Tractor & Plough (without Q cab)
1st David Rae and winner of the Tony Ascott Perpetual Challenge Cup
2nd Paul Studley
3rd Malcolm Selby
Class 12 – Tractor & hydraulically operated 2 or 3 furrow plough
1st Michael Fooks
2nd Max White
3rd John Harris
Class 13 – Tractor & hydraulically operated 4 or more plough
1st Will Doble
2nd Barry Dennett
3rd John Shute
Class 14 – Contractor Challenge – reversible ploughs to use both left and right hand board
1st Will Fooks and winner of Creed Brother’s Seaborough Salver
2nd Gary Stevens
Trophies & Special Prizes
Winner of The Streatfeild Perpetual Cup to Best YFC Ploughman – Erin Moon, Marshwood Vale YFC
Winner of the Interclub Silver Perpetual Cup for highest placed YFC – not awarded in 2021
Champion Ploughman (Open) and winner of Col. Sir Stuart Mallinson cup – David Rae
Reserve Champion Ploughman (Open) – Paul Studley
Champion Ploughman (Local) and winner of silver perpetual Challenge Cup – David Rae
Reserve Champion Ploughman (Local) – Michael Fooks
Best Ins & Outs – Paul Studley
Best Strike out – Paul Studley
Best Finish – Michael Fooks
Best Ploughing with Case International Case or David Brown with Kverneland Plough presented with Silver Perpetual Challenge cup and a voucher donated by GCS Agricentre – Greg Smith
Best Ploughing with Ford New Holland presented a special prize donated by Francis Bugler- John Shute
Best Ploughing with a John Deere Tractor presented with a special prize donated by Mole Country Stores, Dorchester – Will Doble
Sam Dennett Perpetual Memorial Trophy presented by the family for the best finish with a four or five furrow plough – Will Doble
Novice Ploughman
1st Max White
2nd Rodney Cuff
Hedgelaying
Class 1 – Hedgelayer – Local & Open class
1st Terry Coombe and winner of The Elizabeth Lady Williams Challenge Cup
2nd Russell Woodham
3rd Jon Sibthorp
The Cecil A Marsh Challenge Cup presented to the Best Local competitor – Russell Woodham
Class 2 – Novice Hedgelayer
1st Neil Gemmell and winner of Marcus Beresford Trophy
2nd Robin Spanner
3rd Richard Baker
Class 3 – Intermediate Hedgelayer
1st Lydia Lee and winner of Bodger John Trophy
2nd Richard Clayson
3rd Liam Jefferson
Class 4 – Open Pairs
1st Heath & Alex Cregan and winners of The Bartletts (Dorset) Ltd Cup
2nd Richard Hooker & George Pidgeon
3rd Malcolm Dowling & Oliver Garner
Class 5 – Novice Pairs
1st Rob Sturmey & Kirsty Stamp and winners of the Shedbush Farm Trophy
2nd Sam & Toby Cross
3rd Rosie & Steve McCulloch
Champion Hedgelayer and winner of the Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup presented by Cleeves & Edwina Palmer – Terry Coombe
The Philip Hardwill Trophy for highest placed Young Farmer – Alex Clayson, Westbury on Severn YFC
The Russell Woodham Bill Hook Trophy for best hand tool competitor – Robin Spanner
The Bill Hook Trophy for the best Lady competitor – Lydia Lee
Tidiest Kept Site – Lydia Lee
Best work on a poor length of hedge – Lydia Lee presented with a bill hook donated by Mr David Pitman.
Mechanical Flail Hedge Cutting
1st Brian Dunford
2nd Will Case
Joint 3rd Scott Critchell and Josh Case
Tug of War Competition
Melplash Agricultural Society Shield for the winning YFC Tug of War Team – joint winners Honiton YFC & Marshwood YFC
Farm Produce
The Kingston Hill Farm Perpetual Trophy presented to the competitor gaining the most points in the Farm Produce classes – J&I Symes, Lynch Farm, Shipton Gorge.
