The 153rd Mendip Ploughing Match took place at Chewton Mendip, the home town of the Mendips, the translation is the town of the river Chew on the hills of the Mendip Hills. Part of this celebration of countryside skills, which includes hedge laying and dry stone walling, is ploughing with horses as would have been originally.

The match has developed over the years to include grains and crops and samples of produce which can be items of stock fodder.

The whole event has now become a national one, if not international, with entries from the Scottish borders to Cornwall, the eastern counties, and Wales.

The judges commented on the high standard of workmanship in each of their sections. These traditional skills were certainly demonstrated at their very best. The judges of each section chose prize winners and champions. Then, what must be the hardest of judging challenges; the overall champions from the hedging, ploughing and stone walling is chosen.

This year, the Champion of Champions was Simon Bethell of Cheddar for his stonewalling. This was the second time he had won this, the last time being in 2021, obviously a very skilled craftsman.

Local champions and prize winners included George Gell of Langford, using a tractor in production before 1959. Timothy Hurley from Pensford for ploughing using a Ferguson T20 tractor and Ferguson plough and the Iron Ore Co for the best ploughing by a local ploughman living within 10-mile radius of the ploughing match site, who achieves the highest marks. Michael Taviner from West Harptree for the Massey Ferguson 100 series tractor and Ferguson plough.

The Ken Osborne Memorial Cup was presented to Kevin Collins of Butcombe for the open conventional ploughing 3 furrows or more. The Mike Brockway Memorial Trophy for the best tractor in its original condition (not restored) in the Novice or Open Conventional Classes went to Mark Gracie of Felton.

There is also a section for roots, crops and fodder; the winner of the championship was Julian Clothier of Chewton Mendip who shared the Jim Stephens Cup for the most points in the roots classes with Stuart Tibbs of Paulton. The champion forage exhibit was won by W G Ogborne & Son of Chew Stoke. The champion grain was won by N F Clothier & Sons of Ston Eastson who also won the Lever Feeds cup for the exhibitor gaining the most points in the grain and fodder classes.