The BHHA "Skills of the Hills" is predominently a hedgelaying competition. That being said, spectators are welcome to come along. Admission is free and the site will be open from 09:30.
There are toilet facilities and hot food and drink available for members of the public.
The hedges being laid as part of this competition are funded by the
Farming in Protected Landscapes initiative, in this instance administered by the Blackdown Hills AONB (now "Blackdown Hills National Landscape")
Hedgelaying Competition
There are five classes in the BHHA hedgelaying competition: Novice, Novice Pairs, Intermediate, Intermediate Pairs and Open.
The Novice and Novice Pairs classes are designed to be suitable for competitors who have limited experience of hedgelaying. Those who have attended a BHHA training course will be
comfortable handling the task at hand.
Hedges laid in the competition will be on a bank should be done in the “Devon” style and secured using crooks. We have prepared a few notes on the Devon style of hedgelaying
which you can download using the PDF icon on the left. It gives some guidance on what the judges will be looking for in this competition.
A cutting fee of £15 will be given to all competitors/pairs who complete their allocated section of hedge including placed competitors winning other prize money.
Hot food and drink will be provided for all competitors after the cutting has finished (and a cup of tea and bacon roll beforehand if you get there in time).
Entries for the hedgelaying competition are now closed.
You can see the list of confirmed entries HERE.
Prizes
Prizes will be awarded for the first four places in all classes with seven entries or more:
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Open Class: |
1st – £60 & the Percy Duck Challenge Cup
2nd – £40, 3rd – £25, 4th – £15 |
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Intermediate: |
1st – £50 & the Dugdale Cup
2nd – £35, 3rd – £25, 4th – £10
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Intermediate Pairs: |
1st – £40 & Trophy
2nd – £30, 3rd – £20, 4th – £10
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Novice: |
1st – £40 & Trophy
2nd – £30, 3rd – £20, 4th – £10
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Novice Pairs: |
1st – £40 & Trophy
2nd – £30, 3rd – £20, 4th – £10
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Other awards will include:
- The John Coombes Memorial Shield will be awarded to the best competitor aged under 19 years.
- A cup will be presented to the best local competitor living withing the boundaries of the Blackdown Hills AONB.
- A cup will be presented to the best lady competitor in any class.
- The Terry Copp memorial tankard will be awarded to the best Novice competitor trained this season by the BHHA.
- The BHHA "Golden Crook" will be awarded for the best work on a poor length of hedge.
- The Colin Clements Veteran's Trophy for the best competitor over the age of 60.
- The Roger Vickery Regrowth Cup will be presented to the competitor/pair in last year's event judged to have laid the hedge showing the best regrowth.