VISITING A PLOUGHING MATCH SHOULD BE PART OF SCHOOL CURRICULA

CHILDREN could learn so much about food and history if a visit to a ploughing match was part of school curricula.

"To me ploughing matches are a part of country life, we try to encourage schools to visit one near them, there is so much they could learn and see, it should be part of their education."

So said John Greenslade "Farmer John" at the recent presentations evening of Devon County Ploughing Association, which was held at the Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum. He was recently awarded the MBE for services to Agriculture, Conservation and Education.

A great supporter of ploughing matches and very much a Devon Association supporter, Mr Greenslade might be known to local radio listeners for his talks about rural life or visits to his Bickleigh farm for the wildflowers and woodland projects.

Proposing the toast to Devon County Ploughing Association, Mr Greenslade said it had been "almost impossible" to get schools to a ploughing match where they could see the history of farming from using horses, the different types of plough, how horses could plough five acres a day walking around 11 miles, right through the development of tractors and ploughs.

He added that ploughing matches were not just about ploughing, they were about farmers and their crops, the displays and competitions for such as hay and silage and the entries for the produce shows that were part of competition day.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Association and the chairman, Desmond Jenkin, said it had been difficult to find out much about its beginnings.

The 40th anniversary match, held at Firebeacon Farm, the home of Steve Manning and family, had raised £400 each for Devon Air Ambulance Trust and the mental health charity MIND.

Mr Jenkin said conditions through the year had been very variable, at some matches the ground was hard, others more moist and ploughed well.

He said 13 ploughmen from Devon had taken part in the British National in Warwickshire, several judges and stewards also going up from Devon.

Graham Soper had won the Crawler class, Will Retter came third in the YFC Reversible, Malcolm Kerswell third in the General Purpose Horse ploughing.

Father and son Bill and Donald Tonkin from Cheriton Fitzpaine had recently competed in the Scottish National match.

Bill had won his class on the first day, son Donald coming second. The next day Donald was runner-up in the World Style class to Andrew Mitchell, a former world champion.

Donald received the big silver cup for the second year running as Devon County champion ploughman 2018.

First winner 40 years ago was John Southwood with Bill Tonkin winning it the following year, the first time of several that his name was on the cup.

Donald’s grandfather had also won it and it had long been Donald’s ambition to have his name there too. Now he has done it twice running.

Trophies were presented by Association president Raymond Govier.

Donald Tonkin also won the trophy for the Semi-Digger class.

Vintage Trailed: 1 Peter Stone of South Devon, 2 Martyn Smale of Cheriton Fitzpaine, 3 Robert Heaman of Tiverton, 4 Graham Soper from South Devon.

Vintage Mounted - 1 Colin Heard of Holsworthy, 2 Will Voysey. Classic - 1 Richard Hartnell from East Devon, 2 Colin Sanders of Exeter.

Ferguson T20 - 1 Tim Webb of Okehampton, 2 Eddie Vigers of Crediton, 3 Peter Gilbert of Okehampton.

Multi Furrow - 1 Arthur Heywood of Loxbeare. Reversible - 1 Sam Reed of Bickleigh, 2 Paul Pincombe of Witheridge.

YFC member - Rachael Pincombe of Cadeleigh.

This was the cup given by Sam Reed four years ago because there was not one for the best ploughing by a YFC member. Rachel’s brother Michael was the first winner, then cousin Nathan Pincombe, and now Rachael for the last two years.

Anyone who might be able to furnish information about the Association should please email the secretary, Sarah Hammett at: [email protected] .