Judging took place for this prestigious annual competition on 28th to the 30th June. Thirty two farms representing 63,400 acres of Hampshire farmland were judged in four Open Classes & The Championship Class. Farm sizes ranged from 200 acres to 7,000 acres.
The Patrons of the competition, The Hampshire Farmers Club and Romsey Agricultural and Horse Show Society, organised for ten judges drawn from all over the country from Dorset to Norfolk to undertake the task.
First place in the 2009 Championship class was awarded to Lower Norton Farms. The judges were particularly impressed with the excellent standard of the overall business management on the 2,000 acre farm. They considered the farm diversifications to be exemplary and the attention to detail, particularly in the area of financial control by the owner, Tom Coleman, exemplary.
In all five Classes the judges were impressed by the range and number of diversifications undertaken by the farms and by the wonderful conservation projects they were shown. Crops, livestock and diversification enterprises are all inspected with emphasis given to the overall achievement of the farmer in relation to his available resources.
In addition to placing a winner & runner-up, an award for outstanding achievement was given in each class. These were for a Rose Garden and its rapid business growth, appearance of & attention to detail for crops and minimum tillage as well as a beef finishing unit and a suckler herd.
Chairman of the organising committee, James Hewetson-Brown said, "This years’ competition has seen the largest acreage ever entered, which is a testament to the pride that Hampshire farmers take in their farms. We are immensely grateful to our main sponsors NatWest Bank and Usborne Fertilisers Limited without whom the event could not have taken place."
The full results are:
Championship Winner: Lower Norton Farms – Tom Coleman
Championship Runner-up: M&R Morton Ltd – Matthew Morton
Class One Winner: Rees Farming – David and George Rees
Class One: Runner-up: Geoff Elliot Farming Ltd
Class Two Winner: Trinley Estate – Andrew Hughes
Class Two: Runner-up: CA & BA Hall – Dick Hall
Class Three Winner: Snoddington Manor Farm – Iain Curry
Class Three: Runner-up: Nigel & Juliette Pond
Class Four Winner: RB Dunford and Sons – Mark and David Dunford
Class Four: Runner-up: J.G.Venn Ltd – Geoff Venn
Further information can be obtained from James Hewetson-Brown, Chairman of the Hampshire Farm and Conservation Competition on 01256 771222 and jhewetson-brown@btconnect.com
