On the first weekend of October 2025 I returned to the Waddesdon Estate, Buckinghamshire, along with over 100 other competitors for the 46th National Hedgelaying Championships. I was feeling fairly confident of improving on my 4th place in 2024 as it was only around 2 weeks after the accreditation day where I had done extremely well. The accreditation day had also given me a close up look at the hedges that we would be tackling in the competition.

And as with the accreditation day, the competition hedge was just as demanding with big field maples and an average height of around 18 to 20 feet. Because of the size of the hedge, the organisers had given all competitors an extra half an hour, so five and a half hours as opposed to the usual five.

I had drawn cant 11, which was the last one in the Open class and I had the first cutter in the Intermediate class downhill from me. As soon as the hooter went I got stuck into my work. Despite the size of the hedge, I found the work fairly straightforward; although a big hedge it wasn’t too technical and I soon had a decent start.

I worked steadily and methodically through my cant and I found that I finished comfortably before the extra half an hour was needed. It meant that I had plenty of time to put the finishing touches to my hedge.

When the final hooter went, I was pleased with my work. I had done the best I could with the cant that I had drawn. My stake line was good, I had covered my pleachers well, and the finish was fairly consistent, despite one thin patch in the hedge to begin with. I was conscious that my cutting wasn’t quite as consistently accurate as on accreditation day, but at the same time I hadn’t made any major errors. It was time for the judges to get to work…

When the results were announced I placed 5th, only one point behind 4th place. At the time I was very disappointed as, although I knew I hadn’t won the class, I was sure that I had done well enough to place in the top 4. But, that’s the way it goes sometimes such are the nuances of competitive hedgelaying.

There’s always next year of course, and I will return with determination to break into the top three. I know it is just a matter of time.

More than anything though, it was another superb day out with great friends, not only from the UK, but also Ireland and Holland as well. As always it was a brilliant showcase for hedgelaying and the countryside which of course are the real winners.