Longside Farm: 23-01-2018

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Today heralded yet another round in the prolonged fight against Longside Farm hedge. 

In the red corner were 14 NCVs armed with axes, billhooks and bow saws. In the blue corner was a long line of tall hawthorn trees, bristling with thorns, ready to fight back in this, the first meet of the 2018 season.

In the end there was no real contest; the 15m of hedge that had entered the ring so valiantly just didn't stand a chance - it simply keeled over and lay down quietly. Photographic evidence of the massacre can be seen below.....

Firstly a good supply of posts and rails had to be 
carried across the field to the boxing ring.

Then safety gear was applied.
The only goggles that would fit over Ros E's glasses
 had to be removed when they steamed up. 

 Then the red team was treated to its first ever on site breakfast.

This set them up for the bout ahead.
Thanks go to Hilary for providing sausages, pulled pork and onions in buns!!

Anita and Ros K. got stuck into the grub and came out smiling.

The hedge looked on flexing its muscles, 
waiting for the first blow to fall.

One section had weighed in and been given a flyweight rating.
Its chances didn't look good.

Another section was definitely a heavy weight stretch.
This was not going to go down without a fight.

Then the bell rang and Andy waded in 
with a right hook - sorry - bow saw.

Anita and Angela went in with axes, raining blows on the stems. 

James deployed his chainsaw.
There was a sharp intake of breath from the crowd but the ref didn't 
seem to notice this flagrant flouting of the Queensberry rules.

Things were not looking good for the blue team.

Lunchtime cake, provided by Birthday Boy James, 
gave the NCVs a new lease of life after lunch.
Round 2, seconds out

As the hawthorns started to fall so 
the NCVs inserted posts and rails.

Eventually the referee had to stop the fight. 

The hedge was on the floor and didn't stir on the count of 10. 
The crowd went wild. The NCVs went home - to apply hoses to their muddy gear.