THE North East Hampshire Agricultural Association (NEHAA) held its annual ploughing match at Charity Farm, Selborne, on Sunday.

After last year’s renewal was washed away, it was a relief to organisers to have favourable forecasts in the week leading up to it and to have secured a ground that would be suitable for the match under most weather conditions.

“For that we have Sir James Scott, of the Rotherfield Park Estate, to thank and we were very grateful to be given permission to use the land at Charity Farm and were delighted that he was able to attend the match himself,” said NEHAA ploughing match secretary Rebecca Peek.

“The match was well attended by ploughmen, many of whom are regulars to this event, and the entry remains consistent at around 30 to 35, with a few new faces joining us each year. It’s also well supported by friends and family and there were many comments that there seemed to be more spectators attending this year as well.

“The weather was extremely kind to us and although the day dawned a little misty and overcast, it was mild and without wind. By lunchtime, when the ploughing was finished and the judges were walking the plots, the sun came out and everyone was able to enjoy their fish and chip lunch picnicking on the fields.”

Mrs Peek continued: “NEHAA would like to thank this year’s ploughing match judges John Licence, Roy Norkett, John Trenchard and Susie Parish. Susie is usually chief steward for us, but we were lucky to have an excellent team of stewards to step in and support the judges. Thank you to them all.

“We would also like to thank the maintenance class judges George Cameron and Graham Fisher.”

After a busy morning’s ploughing, the overall champion ploughman was Geoffrey Burse, who went away with a plethora of cups and awards. Reserve champion ploughman was Richard Guy.

Chairman of the ploughing match committee, Bob Stevens, kept the event running smoothly and concluded the day as compere for the awards ceremony. The awards were presented by NEHAA president Michael Propert Lewis with his wife, Davina.

The NEHAA thanked all its sponsors, who continue to support the match and without whom the day would not be possible.

Results:

Champion Ploughman: G Burse

Reserve Champion: R Guy

Best Ploughing in Class 2 (Reversible ploughs): K Alexander

Best Ploughing in Class 1 (Conventional): G Burse

Best Maintained VINTAGE tractor in Classes 3 & 4: D Oliver

Best Maintained Tractor in Classes 1 & 2: J Sherwood

Best Work with a Massey Ferguson Tractor: WA Parsons

Best Work with a Vintage Tractor: P Crockford

Best Ploughing with a John Deere Tractor: K Alexander

Best Ploughing with a Ransome/Overum Plough: R Guy

Best Ploughing with a New Holland/Ford Tractor: G Burse

Best Ploughing with Kverneland Plough: G Burse

Best Young Ploughman (under 21): P Murphy

Best Finish: G Burse

Best Crown: E Denton

Class 1: General Purpose: Two, Three, Four or More Furrows – Conventional: 1 G Burse, 2 R Guy, 3 WA Parsons, 4 E Denton

Class 2: Reversible Ploughs: Two, Three, Four or more Furrows – Fully Mounted: 1 K Alexander, 2 R Parish, 3 TR Stephens, 4 A Chitty

Class 3: Open Vintage Class: Trailed Ploughs (for Tractors and Plough manufactured in 1959 or earlier): 1 PJ Crockford, 2 DH Head, 3 D Allen, 4 KW White

Class 4: Open Vintage Class: Mounted Ploughs (for Tractors and Ploughs manufactured in 1959 or earlier): 1 G Newman, 2 D Oliver

Maintenance (Modern): 1 J Sherwood, 2 K Alexander, 3 S Painter

Maintenance (Vintage): 1 D Oliver, 2 M Burrows, 3 TR Morris