A GARDENER has slashed through the competition to take a national prize for hedge laying.
Paul Matthews from Redhill emerged victorious from the South of England section at the National Hedge Laying Championships.
It was a big day for the 50-year-old who has waited ten years to win the contest after discovering hedge laying through his grandfather, who used to watch it.
"He got me interested in the countryside in general," he said.
"I happened to watch a match one day and thought I would like to do it."
Competitors tackle a ten-yard stretch of unkempt hedge which they must trim and rebuild in the appropriate style, with high marks given for neatness and uniformity of structure, with the binding and stakes at the same height and very straight.
Having previously won in the "intermediate" class in 2008, Mr Matthews was delighted to take the top prize in the elite "open" category. "I have been placed plenty of times but this is the best win of my career," he said.
The Green Lane resident works as a gardener in the summer, only tending hedges from October to March.
He also carries out contract work on hedges for Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.
Though he uses a chainsaw for his everyday work, Mr Matthews attacked the competition hedge with traditional tools such as a side axe and Yorkshire bill hook.
He explained: "In competition I use traditional tools because you get a better finish.
"It is physically demanding if you are doing it with hand tools."
But he admits he is not in a hurry to defend his crown and dominate the South of England division and might branch out to new styles.
"There's quite a few people who've won it two or three times," he said.
"I would like to try different styles."
More than 100 hedge layers took part in the contest, using seven different styles of hedge laying named after specific areas.
These include Yorkshire, Welsh Border and South of England – the section Mr Matthews won.
He was pipped to the title of Supreme Champion by Colin Clutterbuck of Bristol, who won the North Somerset category.
