FARMING and agricultural skills were on show as dozens took part in an annual hedgelaying and ploughing match in west Dorset.

The Melplash Agricultural Society has held the event every year of its 169-year history in order to celebrate local agriculture and farming skills.

This year's contest was held at Higher Langdon Farm near Beaminster, with 40 ploughmen and 40 hedge layers of all ages taking part.

Tim Frampton, Melplash Agricultural Society ploughing and hedgelaying chairman, said: “Thank you to everyone who entered this year and special thanks to the judges and all the volunteers who helped put the day on.

"We had a good turnout in all the competitions and it was very pleasing to see so many youngsters getting involved and participating. Despite the unsettled weather and the odd rain storm, we were delighted with the number of spectators who turned out to watch too.”

The ploughing match featured a range of classes. As well as prizes being given to the best in each class, prizes are awarded to the best novice, open, young farmer and local ploughman.

Competitors in the hedgelaying competition have to lay the hedge Dorset Style, a style that has been championed by the society and is now recognised by the National Hedgelaying Society.

The competition was well supported with a very good novice section including a number of individuals who had attended the society’s free hedgelaying day which took place a couple of weeks before, and was very well attended.

Russell Woodham won the local hedgelaying competition, ahead of Steve Eldridge and Jon Sibthorp - while Mr Woodham also won the Cecil A Marsh Memorial Perpetual Trophy.

Harry Dale was named winner of the class two hedging novice, as well as winner of the Marcus Beresford Trophy for best novice. He also received the Philip Hardwill Cup for the highest placed young farmer.

The intermediate hedging title was won by Chris Claxon, ahead of Rob Wood and Roly Boughton - with Terry Coombe named winner of the open hedging competition. Mr Coombe also claimed the Elizabeth Lady Williams Perpetual Challenge Cup.

Lydia Lee was named winner of the ladies competition and the Bill Hook Trophy, while the open pairs title was secured by Duncan Frazer and Malcolm Dowding, finishing ahead of Simon Cullingford and Stuart Curtis and William Baker and Leo Bonning.

In the ploughing competition, Brian Johnston won the Jack Dare Memorial Trophy and the Blandford and Web Perpetual Cup.