A glorious autumnal day greeted the more than one hundred ploughmen for the Mendip Ploughing Match held on land at Chewton Mendip by kind permission of Lionel, Stuart and Ollie Clothier, writes Rosie Sage.

The conditions for ploughing were near perfect with hedge layers and stone wallers appreciating the dry conditions following the recent wet weather.

The busy view across the plough field
The busy view across the plough field (Rosie Sage)

Disappointingly there was only one horse ploughing entry forward, who was perfectly content to display the art of ploughing with a horse. It is certainly harder work than with a tractor.

The fodder judges hard at working during the Mendip Ploughing Match
The fodder judges hard at working during the Mendip Ploughing Match (Rosie Sage)

This year’s champion hedger was Alex Bown who won the supreme.

Alex from Binegar has been champion hedger before and has been competing here for some 30 years. Alex is not only a local farmer, one of his daughters has champion Welsh Black sheep, he is also a hedging contractor. Alex has featured in an episode of Clarkson’s Farm whilst hedging.

Beth Yates from Butcombe creating a dry stone wall
Beth Yates from Butcombe creating a dry stone wall (Rosie Sage)

There was another local winner in the stone walling - Christian Wilks of Priddy.

Champion in the roots was Julian Clothier of Chewton Mendip and the most points being won by N F Clothier & Son of Ston Easton who also won the forage championship with L O Clothier & Sons from Chewton Mendip gaining the most points for fodder. Steve Mitchell from Dundry won the grain championship.

Michael Taviner on his tractor
Michael Taviner on his tractor (Rosie Sage)

The Blagdon Charterhouse & West Mendip tankard was won by Michael Taviner of West Harptree. The Mike Brockway Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the best tractor in its original condition won by Tom Broad of Winford. A challenge cup presented in memory of a great stalwart of the ploughing society, Keith Hasell was won by Timothy Hurley of Pensford, who also won one of the oldest cups presented to a local ploughman.

The catering team had to work hard to keep all the ploughing match competitors happy
The catering team had to work hard to keep all the ploughing match competitors happy (Rosie Sage)

The Blagdon Charterhouse and West Mendip Ploughing Society cup to the winner of the winner of the novice hedge laying was won by George Brooks from Winscombe.