By Don Gaskins
Hedgelayers came from as far afield as Dorset, the Mendips and the Blackdown Hills for DRST’s annual hedging competition which this year was held at Ham Farm, Loddiswell in South Devon on the 29th of October.
As always the standard of work was high right across the field – particularly in the Open Class where two and a half points covered the first four competitors. Steve Mc Culloch was first, narrowly ahead of second placed Colin Risdon with Mike Reed third and last year’s winner Richard Hooker in fourth place. The Ladies Cup went, once again, to Tina Bath competing in the Open Class. Local man Chris Stanton won the Intermediate Class with Dorset based cutters Rob Wood and John Sibthorp in second and third places. Alan Martin won the Novice Class with Josey Field second and Laura Tunstall third.
Peter Yeates, Roger Parris and Rachael Banyard were the judges and prizes were presented by landowner Peet Leather who was delighted with the work carried out. It’s now down to her partner Karl Hahn to dispose of the mountain of brash! All in all a very pleasant and successful day.
A longer version of this report will appear in the next print edition of Skills.
