Champions lose crown

The competition tests the wits, skill and stamina of young farmers aged between ten and 26 across the county with competitions for a pantomime cow, make-up, cooking, tug of war and stock judging.

Malmesbury was aiming for its 12th success in a row but, despite going into the day's events neck and neck with the other North Wiltshire hopeful Chippenham, it was Melksham who came from behind to steal the show.

It is the first time in the 70 years the rally has been running they have been champions

Young farmers' Wiltshire County co-ordinator Sally Robinson said it was a surprise result.

She said: "It was a very good result for Melksham, they worked very hard to win.

"The competition is normally between Malmesbury and Chippenham. It is like somebody from the third division beating a premiership side in the FA Cup final."

Melksham won the Spillars Charity Shield after their combined score of 6,102 between the senior and junior competitions edged out Malmesbury, who won the seniors competition but finished second overall with a total of 6,006.5 and Chippenham came third with 5,846.

At the start of the day it looked like the 66-strong team of Malmesbury would be battling it out for the title with Chippenham, who had 45 competitors. Both were level pegging after the stock judging competition.

But it was Melksham, who only had 25 members competing, that battled to victory.

Chippenham Young Farmers' chairman Phil Godwin said his team were disappointed.

He said: "We have been runners up to Malmesbury for a number of years and we were hoping to do a little better this year,

"At the end of the day I shook the Melksham captain's hand and I'm sure I will see him down the pub next week. We will be back next year to try and improve on our performance."

Rally chairman Alex Dole said the event had been a big success. "The rivalry between all the clubs was strong but everybody seemed to enjoy themselves," he said.