A record 20 dry stone wallers took part in the 30th competition held by the Cumbria Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association. Held during the Penrith Show, the event saw Peter Gibson take top honours in the professional class. Winning amateur was Pat Adair while George Allonby triumpned in the veterans class. Judge was Steven Allen from Tebay.

Penrith waller George Allonby, who, along with fellow waller David Buchanan, had organised the competition, moving stone, seeking sponsorship and, this year, arranging the fine weather said, “ It was good to have so many turn out for this anniversary competition; it makes all the preparation worth while.” And George, as usual, won the veterans class.

The other winners were:

Professionals

1st Peter Gibson

2nd William Bell

3rd David Buchanan

4th Dan Bird

Amateurs

1st Pat Adair

2nd Matt Roberts

3rd Kieran Hughes

4th Bryn Wythes

Beginners/Novices

1st Joe Bowman

2nd Thomas Kendal

3rd Michael Hargreaves

4th Christian James

Veterans

1st George Allonby

2nd William Tones

3rd Ray Babb

Special Awards

Professional Class

Best Footings Peter Gibson

Best Cams William Bell

Non- professional classes

Best Footings Pat Adair

Best Cams Thomas Kendal

The prizes for the winners in the four classes were presented by Steve Pinquey, a partner of Armstrong Watkins Accountants, who again kindly agreed to sponsor the competition. Other sponsors included Dent Logistics and TW Relph & Son and DSWA Cumbria thanks them all for their support.

The judge was Steven Allen from Tebay, who had the hardest job of all.

Also taking part this year was Ray Babb, who hosted the first ever Cumbria Branch competition in 1985 and complains that he’s only ever beaten George Allonby in one competition since. He said, “My wife and I offered one of our farm walls for that first competition. It never came back to Broughton, but I am very glad to see it still going strong thirty years later at Penrith Show. I hope to be back next year to try to topple George.”