A SHIPLEY man has been crowned Yorkshire’s dry stone walling champion after impressing with his work on Otley Chevin.

Lee Jones’ four-year stint building a tricky stretch of wall bordering a farm at Yorkgate saw him named as the new winner of the CLA competition. Collecting his award, he said: “I couldn’t be happier to win this. I started work on the wall four years ago and It has been really hard going at times but this recognition makes it all worthwhile.”

The wall has been built for Keith Willis at Beacon House Farm, Yorkgate, as part of an ongoing project to re-build the perimeter wall on the 20 acre smallholding.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “The judges felt the quality of the build was exceptional. Lee managed to keep the wall extremely tight and level despite having to work on a sharp incline.”

Held in association with the Yorkshire Dry Stone Walling Guild, the competition judges new or rebuilt walls in the countryside.