More than 70 competitors turned out for an agricultural society's annual hedge laying and ploughing match.

The Melplash Agricultural Society's 171st annual hedge laying and ploughing match took place on land near Corscombe by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Oliver Hemsley of Urless Farm.

Competitors ranging from farmers, contractors, young farmers, vintage tractor and rural craft enthusiasts put their skills to the test with the aim of winning a prize.

Alongside the competition was the opportunity for spectators to have a go at ploughing, test their woodland knowledge and enjoy refreshments provided by Beaminster Young Farmers Club (YFC).

Whilst the judges compiled their scores, competitors and spectators were treated to music played by the Chantry Buoys, who this year are raising funds for the RNLI.

Unusually, the ploughing competition took place on grass land, which challenged all taking part.

Ploughing match judge, Roy French, said: "Although a very testing day for the ploughmen, everyone did very well."

The winners from this year's ploughing match are:

  • Class Eight- Vintage Trailed- Roger Nicholls
  • Class Nine- Vintage Hydraulic- Mike Symonds
  • Champion Vintage and winner of The Jack Dare Memorial Trophy- Roger Nicholls
  • Best Strike Out Vintage- Mike Symonds
  • Best Finish Vintage- Alan Hayball
  • Champion Ploughmen (classes eight, nine and 10) and winner of the Blandford & Webb Perpetual Challenge Cup- Roger Nicholls
  • Class 11- Young Farmers General Purpose Ploughing- winner of The Streatfeild Perpetual Cup- Mike Crabb, winner of the Interclub Silver Perpetual Cup- Beaminster YFC
  • Class 12- Classic Tractor and Plough (without Q cab) and winner of the Tony Ascott Perpetual Challenge Cup- Tony Ascott
  • Class 13- Tractor and hydraulically operated two or three furrow plough- Greg Smith
  • Class 14- Tractor and hydraulically operated four or more plough- Will Doble
  • Class 15- Contractor Challenge- Tim Frampton
  • Champion Ploughman (open) and winner of the Stuart Mallinson Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup- Tony Ascott
  • Champion Ploughman (local) and winner of the Silver Perpetual Challenge Cup- Tony Ascott
  • Novice Ploughman- Philip Fry
  • Best ins and outs- Tony Ascott
  • Best Strike Out- Greg Smith
  • Best Finish- Greg Smith
  • Best Ploughing Case Int, Case or David Brown with Kverneland Plough- Greg Smith
  • Best Ploughing with Ford New Holland- Mike Fooks
  • Best Ploughing John Deere Tractor- Colin Stacey