ON a lovely sunny day with good conditions for ploughing, 45 ploughs competed in seven classes at Witheridge and District Ploughing and Agricultural Group’s 114th annual ploughing match on Tuesday, September 21.

Held at Lutworthy Farm, East Worlington, three of the classes were qualifiers for the National ploughing match in October in Northumberland. 

The ploughmen and ploughwomen came from Cornwall to Gloucester and also two from Cumbria, John Saunders and Trevor Robinson, who had been at the Cheriton Fitzpaine match that weekend, competing in the High Cut class.

There were good entries in the farm produce, domestic, childrens, flowers and vegetable classes with many quality exhibits.

It was the first time there had been anyone taking part in the High Cut class for many, many years at Witheridge. One of the two, John Saunders from Carlisle, said it was too slow and too complicated for most.

His fellow competitor, Trevor Robinson from Penrith, added: “We don’t do this at home, it is too stoney. There is not one of this class up north, probably only two north of Birmingham.

“They used to do the high cut with horses, it is a way of managing to sow corn at an even depth. Corn needs to be sown deeper than claws or beak, meaning that rooks and other birds cannot get at the seed.

“Then you just needed to go over it with a harrow.” John added that it was the advent of the seed drill that began the demise of the high cut.

“We are as rare as the giant panda, in fact there are more giant pandas than high cut ploughmen, or women. It is one of the hardest ways to plough, many people do not attempt it, it is so hard and time consuming. It is dedication to get it right,” said Trevor.

Trevor is an agricultural engineer, John has worked as a contractor for many years. They met by chance a number of years ago.

A garden bench given by Mole Avon was auctioned during the afternoon by the chairman, Alan Bickley.

TROPHIES

Ploughing trophies - Best work of the day - David Franklin,  Best reversible ploughing by a local ploughman -  Paul Pincombe and also best work with three furrows or more by a local ploughman. 

Best work vintage trailer - John Hodges,  Best ploughing by a local ploughman - Raymond Govier,  Best work classic - Steve Teagle.

Best ploughing by a Ford tractor - John Hodges,  Best work Ferguson - Tim Hurley,  Best work vintage mounted  - David Franklin. Best Work reversible open - Sam Reed.

Trophy winners in Farm Produce. Most points - Daniel Gibson, Best exhibit - Michael Pincombe, most points hay/silage - Daniel Gibson, most cookery points - Mrs Doreen Leat

YFC shield - Isabel Govier, most points children’s classes - Greg Baldwin, runner-up children’s classes - Phoebe Govier, most points flowers and vegetables - Tim Blake. Most points in domestic/vegetables - Mrs Joyce Rowcliffe.

Children’s prize winners: A collage - 1 Greg Baldwin, 2 Oscar Hext, 3 Billy Cleverdon-Brend, 4= Scott Baldwin and Lucas Hext.

Animal made from Veg/fruit - 1 Kobe Luckson,  2 Billy Cleverdon-Brend, 3 Greg Baldwin, 4= Leo Luckson and Scott Baldwin.

Sweets necklace - 1 James Witherow, 2 Greg Baldwin, 3 Lucas Hext, 4 = Leo Luckson and Kobe Luckson.   Hand writing =1 Phoebe Govier, 2 Harry Balment, 3 Grace Witherow.

Date crispie bars - 1 Phoebe Govier, 2 Joe Balment, 3 Reuben Gillbard.  Decorated Flower Pot - 1 Joe Balment, 2 Phoebe Govier, 3 Reuben Gillbard.

Ploughing results 

Open Digger Ploughing - 1 Mike Adams, 2 Donald Tonkin.   Open Reversible - 1 Sam Reed, 2 Paul Pincombe, 3 Michael Pincombe.   

Classic Pre 1976 Qualifier - 1 Steve Teagle, 2 Vince Gill, 3 Francis Grose, 4 David Rae. 

Vintage Tractor and Trailer Plough pre 1960 Qualifier - 1 John Hodges,  2 Martyn Smale,  3 P C Stone, 4 Colin Stacey.

Vintage Mounted pre 1960 Qualifier - 1 David Franklin,  2 Colin Heard,  3 Martin Franklin, 4 = Andrew Westcott and Roger Heal. 

Ferguson T20 with standard Ferguson Plough before 31.12.56 - 1 Tim Hurley,  2 E Vigars,  3 George Greenslade, 4 Giles Persey.     

High Cut  - 1 John Saunders, 2 Trevor Robinson.

First prize winners in the Fodder classes were - Graham Nott, Ivor Govier, Michael Pincombe, Graham Irwin, Alan Bickley and Daniel Gibson.

First prize winners in the Domestic classes were - Joyce Rowcliffe, Sally-Ann Balment, Joy Cottey, Doreen Leat, Isabel Govier, Lorna Nott, Sarah Boyles, Caroline Blake, Reuben Gillbard, Leah Hext, and Angus Cottey.

First prize winners in the Flowers and Vegetable classes were - Gillian Gillbard, Ivor Govier, Tim Blake, John Kerslake, Gordon Willmetts, Angus Cottey and Nigel Pincombe.

The committee would like to thank the Kneller family for hosting the match and all the Judges, all who entered the ploughing and the supporting competitions, donated raffle prizes and all who have helped in any way to make this a successful match.