HUNDREDS of people attended the British National Ploughing Championships and Country Fair at East Combe, near Bishops Lydeard at the weekend.

A total of 265 ploughmen and five ploughwomen competed in the two-day event, which was attended by a large crowd of spectators.

Ken Chappell, executive director of the Society of Ploughmen, said: "It drew a great crowd - the best we've had in about ten years.

"It's not just the horses and the ploughing - we also had more than 100 trade stands and the chance to watch 17 pairs of working horses.

"We had demonstrations of traditional ploughing, right through to modern techniques."

Mr Chappell said the quality of the soil on the land, owned by Ken Coles and his family, was "top quality".

For more photos of the event, see Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.

RESULTS: Reversible final plough off: 1st Colin Bowen, Clun, Craven Arms, Shropshire, 323 points; 2nd Peter Alderslade, East Bolden, Tyne & Wear, 287; 3rd Michael Chappell, Bothamsall, Retford, Notts, 270.

Conventional final plough off: 1st John Hill, Hoylandswaine, South Yorkshire, 255; 2nd Geoffrey Fretwell, Penistone, S. Yorkshire, 221; 3rd Ashley Boyles, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, 218.

Colin Bowen and John Hill will represent England in the 2012 World Ploughing Contest to be held in Croatia; Peter Alderslade and Michael Chappell will represent England in the 2012 European Reversible Ploughing Championships.

Class 1, One Way Ploughing: 1st Colin Bowen, Clun, Craven Arms, Shropshire, 303; 2nd Alan Critchlow, Foston, Derbyshire, 271; 3rd Michael Chappell, Doncaster, South Yorks, 271.

Class 2, YFC Reversible Ploughing Championships: 1st Ian Brewer, Wadebridge, Cornwall, 283; 2nd Sam Reed, Bickleigh, Crediton, Devon, 192.

Class 3A, Semi Digger Work (two or more furrows): 1st Geoff Fretwell, Penistone, South Yorkshire, 238; 2nd Ashley Boyles, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, 231; 3rd Alwyn Davies, Ledbury, Herefordshire, 219.

Class 3B, semi digger work (two or more furrows): 1st David Chappell, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, 255; 2nd John Hill, Hoylandswaine, South Yorkshire, 251; 3rd Aled Morgan, Newcastle Emlyn, Ceredigion, 231.

Class 4A YFC Conventional Ploughing Championships: 1st Stuart Vickers, Sarn, Malpas, Cheshire, 209; 2nd Nick Davenport, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, 205; 3rd Iestyn James, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan, 183.

Class 4B, YFC Vintage & Classic Ploughing Championships: 1st Alexander Townroe, Mansfield, Notts, 210; 2nd Matthew Whitehead, Penrith, Cumbria, 192; 3rd Daniel Ford, Undy, Calidcot, Monmouthshire, 186.

Class 5, Oat Seed Furrow Work (Tractors): 1st Derek Needham, Clenchwharton, Norfolk, 221; 2nd Stephen Swales, Yarm, North Yorkshire, 205; 3rd Robert Irving, Truro, Cornwall, 204.

Class 6, Horse Ploughing - General Purpose Work: 1st James Elliott, Beamish, Co Durham, 221; 2nd Wynne Hull, Preston, Lancashire, 193; 3rd Martin Kerswell, Buckfastleigh, Devon, 186.

David Brown Ploughing Championships: 1st David White, Hotham, York, North Yorkshire, 222; 2nd Keith Stone, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, 207; 3rd Raymond Edmondson, Northumberland, 192.

Horticultural Ploughing Championships: 1st David Williams, Bulkington, Warwickshire, 203; 2nd Brian Carter, Tattondale, Knutsford, Cheshire, 203; 3rd Andy Ford, Minster, Isle of Sheppey, Kent 201.

Class 7 Trailed Vintage Ploughing Championships: 1st Michael Taylor, Melton Mowbray, Leics, 239; 2nd Raymond Alderson, Bolam, Co Durham, 231; 3rd Derek Lloyd, Ellesmere, Shropshire, 229.

Class 8, Hydraulic Vintage Ploughing Championships: 1st Geoff Smith, Leckford, Stockbridge, Hants, 243; 2nd Richard Ingram, Atherstone, Warwickshire, 240; 3rd Colin Hewetson, Allonby, Cumbria, 239.

Class 9 Classic Ploughing Championships: 1st George Allwood, Hoveringham, Notts, 221; 2nd David Greenwood, Garforth, Leeds, W Yorks, 213; 3rd Phil Meek, Newcastle, Monmouthshire, 212.

Class 10 Oat Seed Furrow Work (Tractors): 1st Robert Irving, Truro, Cornwall, 210; 2nd Shaun Garrod, oudham, Norfolk, 196; 3rd Derek Needham, Clenchwharton, Norfolk, 195.

Class 11 Horse Ploughing - Oat Seed Furrow Work: 1st James Elliott, Stanley, Co Durham, 240; 2nd Martin Kerswell, Buckfastleigh, Devon, 215; 3rd Dave Persey, Clayhidon, Cullompton, Devon 178.

Class 12 Crawler Tractor Ploughing: 1st John Webb, Great Waltham, Essex, 241; 2nd Colin Fenner, Hawkewell, Essex, 211; 3rd John Crowder, Torksey, Lincolnshire, 188.

Ferguson Ploughing Championship: 1st Keith Williams, Kings Caple, Herefordshire, 202; 2nd Peter Chambers, Pleasley, Mansfield, Notts, 201; 3rd Gordon Monaghan, Tarleton, Preston, Lancs, 199.

Overall British Horse Ploughing Champion: James Elliott.

Overall National YF Ploughing Champion: Ian Brewer.

Overall Vintage Ploughing Champion: George Allwood.

Michael Taylor, Geoff Smith and George Allwood will represent England in the 2012 European Vintage Ploughing Championships in Belgium.