CHERITON Fitzpaine and District Ploughing Association held a very successful 71st ploughing match and produce show on Sunday, September 19 at Bidwell Barton, near Thorverton.

This year’s venue was very kindly offered by Mr and Mrs Stuart Crang and the event took place in three fields.

Sandra Turner, one of the organisers, said there was a great response to the ploughing entries which saw 60 ploughmen in action on the day.

She explained: “Competitors arrived from as far afield as Oxford together with the more local counties of Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall and Devon.

“We were very fortunate to have two pairs of ploughing horses present on the day which proved to be both popular and also provided a great spectacle.

“We had record numbers of class entries for the produce and craft show this year and the mixture of classes made a particularly colourful exhibit. The entrants were up particularly for the baking section where numerous winning entries came from Mrs Sarah Fox who took the trophy for the most points in the cake and sponge baking.

“Mr David Friendship from Sandford did splendidly well in the vegetable classes gaining many first places and his high entry numbers saw him winning the Stockleigh house cup this year.

“His eye catching onions were truly magnificent and were certainly one of the talking points of the show. It was definitely David’s day too as he also had the lucky numbered programme which saw him winning the hamper.

“The class, ‘cress grown in unusual object’ certainly raised a few eyebrows and brought some chuckles with displays including cress in a cow’s horn, a bra, and even an old tractor seat.

“The youngest exhibitors in the show from Thorverton and Cheriton Fitzpaine primary schools did some very impressive displays and once again this year Thorverton held onto the junior schools challenge cup.

“The afternoon saw many cream teas and delicious home-baked cakes enjoyed and as it was such a glorious day weather-wise people were very happy to relax in the sunshine.

“The afternoon was brought to a close with a ploughing service in the field which was led by Mr Kingsley Cross from Cheriton Fitzpaine.

“There was a minute’s silence held for the late Denis Mildon who had been a crop/root steward for many years and also our previous chairman, Mr Mike Cushion, both of whom will be very much missed.

“Newton St Cyres Young Farmers’ this year helped us to steward the event and their energy, enthusiasm and help on the day was very much appreciated.”

Show secretary Julie Davie added that the day went very well with no problems and that everyone enjoyed themselves.

She added: “Cheriton Fitzpaine and District Ploughing Association would sincerely like to thank all those local firms, businesses, families and individuals who have very kindly given in the form of sponsorship and/or donation to enable us to put on this magnificent public event. Without their support this would not be possible.

“This year our thanks go to the following: Mason Kings, S Yeandle (contractor), D Brinicombe, St Boniface Vets, Matford Arable, Procam, Conibear Bros, Tiverton Show, Stuart Luxton, Mole Avon Trading, James Price Tractors, Hamleys, Edwin Tuckers, NFU Crediton, Cornish Mutual, Lee Farm Services, Mid Devon Tyres, Thornes Farm Shop, Ford Fuels, Farmco, Crediton Milling, Mole Valley Farmers, Quickes Traditional Ltd, Morrisons, Creedy Carver, Heard and Sendell, Lewis’s of Crediton, Tesco, Philip Hill (contractor) and Munday and Munday.

“Thank you to those individuals who gave draw prizes and sponsorship. Finally we would also like to thank all the hard-working members of the committee, their families and friends who both helped and supported us on the day.”

RESULTS

The Champion Ploughman Award went to Paul Greet from Shobrooke.

Perpetual Challenge Cup (best piece of ploughing in Open novice - Any Conventional Plough) - Mr T Stephens; Perpetual Netherexe Cup (winner of reversible class) - Mr S Reed; Perpetual Cup (best ploughing by YFC member) - Mr J Branton, Bampton YFC; W J Lee Perpetual Memorial Trophy (best kept tractor and equipment) – Mr Tim Webb.

The Stockleigh House Perpetual Challenge cup (for local exhibitor or competitor gaining most points in any of classes) – Mr D Friendship; Black Dog Perpetual Challenge Cup (the YFC member gaining most points in any of classes) – Miss Katie Davie; The Bowley Perpetual Challenge Cup (YFC member of opposite sex to winner of the Black dog Cup gaining most points in any class) – Mr Ben May; The Tiresome Perpetual Challenge Cup (competitor gaining most points in the field root competition) – Mr M Crooke

Challenge Cup (competitor with best field of grass in local leys competition) – Mr J Norman; Perpetual Cup (for exhibitor gaining most points in hay/silage/specimen roots and corn) – Mr R Stoyle.

Pauls Agricultural Perpetual Challenge Cup (exhibitor gaining most points in samples of corn exhibition) – Mr R Stoyle; William Cheriton Perpetual Memorial Challenge Cup (most outstanding entry in the field root competition (kale) - Mr M Crooke; Reg Pike Perpetual Memorial Rose bowl (most outstanding exhibit in flower and vegetable classes) – Mrs C Tapp; Challenge Trophy (exhibitor gaining most points in produce classes 40-63 inc) - Mrs H Cheriton; Perpetual Family Challenge Cup (any two members of the same household jointly winning the highest number of points in any classes) – Mrs H and Mr B May; Bibby Perpetual Trophy (best sample of corn in classes 34-37 inc) – Mr R Stoyle; Nora Kingdon Perpetual Memorial Trophy (competitor gaining most points in any of produce adult cake/sponge classes 40-43) - Mrs Sarah Fox.

Hosegood Junior Champion Perpetual Cup (junior competitor 16 years and under gaining most points in children’s classes) – Zac Mildon; Reg Bulled Perpetual Cup (winner of vintage Class) – Mr R Heaman; Junior Schools Challenge Cup (most junior points) - Thorverton School; The Bill Bulled Cup (presented to winner of the classic class) - Mr P Greet, Shobrooke.

The date of next year’s match has been set for Sunday, September 17.

Alan Quick