RESULTS: Melplash Agricultural Society ploughing match

The annual Melplash Agricultural Society event was held at Wyke farm in Chedington, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Appleby. 

The site was in a field which had self-sown a ley of clover, following the harvesting of the wheat. The surrounding hedge was a typical Dorset hedge with lots of thorn, holly, ivy and hawthorn.

There were six ploughing classes, and 41 ploughmen entered, with four entrants in the mechanical flail hedge trimming classes and 35 entries in the hedgelaying competitions. 

Melplash Agricultural Society chairman, Philip Hardwill, 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 & 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.”

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 and 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 and 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
• The prize giving was hosted by the Chairman, Philip Hardwell and were presented by the landowner  Mr Robert Appleby