This Sunday (October 3), dry-stone wallers from across the region will be taking part in this year's annual Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Open Dry Stone Walling Competition
Cotswolds annual dry-stone walling competition to take placeOn Sunday 3rd October, dry-stone wallers from across the region will be taking part in this year's annual Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Open Dry Stone Walling Competition, organised by the Cotswolds Conservation Board. The competition will be held at Broadfield Farm, Tetbury. Four classes of competitors - beginner pairs, novice, amateur and professional - will each be vying for the prestigious walling trophy and up to �120 cash prize under the expert eye of Master Craftsmen judges from the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain.Depending on which class competitors enter, they will have to strip and rebuild a limited length of wall to the correct specification. The rules associated with the competition are strict, with marks awarded for quality of foundations, cope stones, sides, middle filling, batter and straightness. The draw for stints takes place from 8.45am with work completed at 4.15pm and prizes awarded at 4.30pm. Land Management Officer at the Cotswolds Conservation Board, Mark Connelly said: "We are delighted to be holding our 9th annual dry-stone walling competition which always attracts a high level of interest from both participants and spectators.Maintaining and promoting traditional skills such as dry-stone walling is an important part of the Board’s role in conserving and enhancing the distinctiveness of the Cotswolds landscape."Spectators are welcome to watch the competition which will take place at Prestons Folly, Broadfield Farm, just off the A433, one mile from Tetbury, while those looking to take part can do so by registering with the Cotswolds Conservation Board by 28th September. Telephone 01451 862000 or visit: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk ENDS Notes to editors: Competition classes are described as follows :Class 1: Professional: anyone whose main earnings are derived from dry stone walling or who is regularly employed as a dry-stone waller.Class 2: Amateur: anyone deriving less than 50% of their earnings from dry stone walling or anyone regarding themselves as a competent dry stone waller.Class 3: Novice: anyone with some experience of dry stone walling.Class 4: Beginner pairs: any two people who have little experience of dry stone walling.Competition prizes are awarded as follows:Class 1 1st: Trophy and �120, 2nd: �80; 3rd: �60, 4th: �40Class 2 1st: Trophy and �80, 2nd: �50, 3rd: �30Class 3 1st: Trophy and �60, 2nd: �40, 3rd: �25Class 4 1st: Trophy and �40 each, 2nd: �30 each, 3rd: �20 eachThe competition is supported by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain which was formed at the Gatehouse of Fleet in Galloway in 1968 to preserve, improve and provide education in the craft of dry stone walling. The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is looked after by the Cotswolds Conservation Board – an independent organisation with 37 members, 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by Government. The Government has designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks as our finest countryside and they are recognised as being of national importance. With its rolling hills and valleys the Cotswolds is the second largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District National Park. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south. The Cotswolds AONB is the largest of the family of 47 AONBs in the UK. For further details: www.aonb.org.uk Cotswolds annual dry-stone walling competition
On Sunday, October 3 2010, dry-stone wallers from across the region will be taking part in this year's annual Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Open Dry Stone Walling Competition, organised by the Cotswolds Conservation Board. The competition will be held at Broadfield Farm, Tetbury.
Four classes of competitors - beginner pairs, novice, amateur and professional - will each be vying for the prestigious walling trophy and up to �120 cash prize under the expert eye of Master Craftsmen judges from the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain.
Depending on which class competitors enter, they will have to strip and rebuild a limited length of wall to the correct specification. The rules associated with the competition are strict, with marks awarded for quality of foundations, cope stones, sides, middle filling, batter and straightness. The draw for stints takes place from 8.45am with work completed at 4.15pm and prizes awarded at 4.30pm.
Land Management Officer at the Cotswolds Conservation Board, Mark Connelly said: "We are delighted to be holding our 9th annual dry-stone walling competition which always attracts a high level of interest from both participants and spectators.
Maintaining and promoting traditional skills such as dry-stone walling is an important part of the Board’s role in conserving and enhancing the distinctiveness of the Cotswolds landscape."
Spectators are welcome to watch the competition which will take place at Prestons Folly, Broadfield Farm, just off the A433, one mile from Tetbury. Telephone 01451 862000 or visit: www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk Competition classes are as follows:
Class 1: Professional: anyone whose main earnings are derived from dry stone walling or who is regularly employed as a dry-stone waller.
Class 2: Amateur: anyone deriving less than 50% of their earnings from dry stone walling or anyone regarding themselves as a competent dry stone waller.
Class 3: Novice: anyone with some experience of dry stone walling.
Class 4: Beginner pairs: any two people who have little experience of dry stone walling.Competition prizes are awarded as follows:
Class 1: 1st: Trophy and �120, 2nd: �80; 3rd: �60, 4th: �40
Class 2: 1st: Trophy and �80, 2nd: �50, 3rd: �30
Class 3: 1st: Trophy and �60, 2nd: �40, 3rd: �25
Class 4: 1st: Trophy and �40 each, 2nd: �30 each, 3rd: �20 each
The competition is supported by the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain which was formed at the Gatehouse of Fleet in Galloway in 1968 to preserve, improve and provide education in the craft of dry stone walling.The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is looked after by the Cotswolds Conservation Board – an independent organisation with 37 members, 15 nominated by local authorities, 8 by parish councils and 14 appointed by Government. The Government has designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks as our finest countryside and they are recognised as being of national importance.With its rolling hills and valleys the Cotswolds is the second largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District National Park. It covers 2,038 square kilometres (790 square miles), stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, down to Bath and Wiltshire in the south.The Cotswolds AONB is the largest of the family of 47 AONBs in the UK. For further details: www.aonb.org.uk
