ELLESMERE PLOUGHING MATCH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 5

ELLESMERE PLOUGHING MATCH.

THE RESULTS. « The weather for the fourth annual ploughing match of the Ellesmere Ploughing Match Association was dull and cold, but this did not deter a big crowd from attending. At one time in the afternoon there must have been fully 1200 people on the ground. The land chosen was a paddock belonging to Mr J. C. Lochliead. The major portion was on the rough side, and neat work was made difficult, but the results accomplished were very creditable. Visitors, one and all, the standard of work has been considerably raised since the commencement of the matches four years ago. There were thirty-three competitors in all, and they were drawn chiefly from the Ellesmere district, the Southern meu present at Lincoln on Tuesday not participating. The schedule is restricted to utility ploughing there being no fancy classes. The judges had a most difficult task in making their awards, there being Vjery little to choose between the work of many of the placed men. A feature of the'match was the magnificent work carried out by Master F. Carter (a lad of fifteen) of Southbridge, who was not too well treated by the Lincoln judges. Competing in the district double furrow class he .won the event, was first for ,best finish, first for feering, first for ins and out, and first for handling team, and first for straight test ploughing. This was sufficient to' win for him the handsome silver cup presented by the Hon. B. H. Rliodes. The flattering reception given the boy at the presentation of prizes in the evening indicated that the win was popular with competitors and public, alike. The .work accomplished would have done credit to open company. J ; Caldea,', a Lincoln winner, was again first in the open double furrow-class and L. Thomas second. Calder, who has had the misfortune to lose his right arm, manages both team and plough witjk his left hand, and seems practically invincible —altogether a remarkable feat. He secured the special prize for best ploughman on the ground. With Mr W. J. Jamieson as president and Mr A. Holmes as secretary, the club has two live officials, who enthusiastically carry out their duties. The arrangements generally were well carried out. The awards were as follow: —

Class A (open): Double-furrow, coulter cut, shares. Prizes £4, £2, £2, and £l.rJ. Calder, Halkett (L. T. Hartxiell, owner) 1; L. Thomas, Kirwee (Wm. Holley) 2; C. A. Campion, Prebbleton (W. H. Jamieson) 3. J. Neeson, jun., West Melton (Mr Montgomery) 4. Seven competitors. Best feering, J. Calder; best finish, L. Thomas.

Class B (district): Double-furrow, no cut, cast shares. Prizes £4, £2, £2, and £l.W. Welsh, Southbridge (Geo. Gilbert, owner) 1; W. Carter, Southbridge (T. Carter) 2; G. Ridden, Southbridge' (A, Tong) 3; D. Hampton, jun., Leeston (D. Hampton) 4. Five competitors. * Best feering, W? Welsh; best finish, W. Welsh.

Class C (district) : Double-furrow, no cut, cast shares. For youths under 17. Prizes £3, £l, £l, and 10/-. —F. Carter, Southbridge (T. Carter, owner) 1; Geo. Barker, Leeston (H. J. Barker) 2\ Robert Johnston, Leeston (Wm. Johnston) 3; E. Gibson, Ellesmere (8. Gibson) 4,. Four competitors.

Best feering, F.'Carter; best finish, F. Carter; straightest ploughing—F. Carter 1, G. Barker 2; best handling F. Carter; best ins and outs, F. Carter. Class D (district) : Three-furrow, no cut, cast shares, with not less than five horses. Prizes £4, £3, £2, and £1. —R. Tdd, Leeston (H. Mi Hay, owner) 1; S. Colqulion, Leeston (J. C. Lochliead) 2; F. Gulliver, Lakeside (J. M'Lachlan) 3; H. Carter, Southbridge (E. G. Hubbard) 4. Best finish, J. H. Skinner; best feering? J. H. Skinner.

Class E (open) : Three-furrow, coulter cut, cast shares, with not less than five horses. Prizes £4, £3, £2, and £l.- —H. Foster, Lincoln (G. Rennie, owner) 1; J. A. Johnston, Rolleston (J. M. C. Johnston) 2; R. A. Brears, Burnham (B. M'Lachlan) 3. Three competitors. Best feering, J. A. Johnston; best finish, H. Foster.

Class F (district, maiden) : Double-furrow, no cut, cast shares. Prizes £3, £2, £2, and £1. —-E. Wise, Southbridge (J. Lilley, owner) 1; W. M'Laehlan, Doyleston (A. M'Laehlan) 2; 13. Everest, Southbridge (J. Moorhead) 3; G. M'Laehlan, Leeston (M'Laehlan Bros.) 4. Nine competitors. Best fearing, E. Wise; best finish, A. ShierSPECIAL PRIZES.

Most points in district classes (cup presented by Hon. E. Heaton Rhodes), F. Carter; best feering on ground, J. Calder; best finish on ground, L. Thomas; straightest ploughing, class D, P. Gulliver; best decorated team, H. Foster; best kept harness, in everyday use, three or four-horse teams.-—W. Welsh 1, G. M'Laehlan 2; best groomed three or four-horse team—»W. Welsh 1, D. Hampton 2; best kept harness, in every-day use, five or six-horse' team —S. Colquhon 1, J. Lawrence 2; best groomed five or six-horse team —S. Colquhon 1, H. Foster 2; most points in grooming and harness decoration-VW. Welsh 1, S. Colquhon 2; best team on ground, most suitable for farm work —W. Welsh 1, H. Foster 2; best handled team, class F, A. Shierlaw; best ploughman on ground, J. Calder ; youngest ploughman, double-furrow classes, Johnston; youngest ploughman, three-furrow classes, H. Carter; best ins and outs —J. Calder 1, H. Foster 2; quickest time for placed man, J. H. Skinner; straightest ploughing on ground, C. A. Campion; ploughman with largest family, C. Thomas; oldest married ploughman, W. Rickersby; best handled team on ground, J. A. Johnston; competitor who travels greatest distance, F. J. Laurence; sheep-guessing competition (actual weight, 13111b), J. Bray and W. Loclihead tied for first place; gorse-cutting competition—F. Bayliss 1, T. Wallis 2. A SOCIAL gathering;

In the evening a sinoke concert was held in the Leeston Town Hall, at which there were fully a hundred and fifty people present. ' Mr W. H. Jamieson, president of the club, presided,' and seated with him were the prominent officials of the Ellesmere A. and P. Association, and the Ellesmere County Council. A lengthy toast list was honoured, including: —"Our Defence Forces," proposed by Captain Overton and Mr M. Dixon; "Kindred Societies," Mr J. Cunningham, responded tor by Messrs W r . B. Cunningham and E. W. Lochhead; "Ellesmere Ploughing Match Association, '' Mr J. Hamlet, responded to by Mr Jamieson; "The Judges," Mr A. M'Laehlan, responded to by Messrs R. W. Lochhead and John M'Laehlan; "The Competitors," J. Lochhead, responded to by Messrs J. Calder, Lj, Thomas, W. Welsh, and J. Ridden; "Mr J. C. Lochhead," who ( provided the paddocks for the match, Mr H. E. Fincham. Contributions to the harmony of the evening were made by Messrs A. Holmes, C. 11. Olliver, J. Hamlet, W. M'Laehlan, G. M'Laehlan, Salter, and C. Jones.