ASHBURTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16584, 25 July 1919, Page 8

ASHBURTON PLOUGHING MATCH.

President, Mr J. Cow; vice-president, Mr A. Hortic-y; treasurer, Mr J. Tucker; oommittee,' Messrs G. Miller (chairman), T. Taylor, C. Reid, F. Frampton, D. G. Wright, J.' J. M. Hampton, J. Cairns, J. W. Butterick, A. Drummond. Judaea of plouphinij, Messrs W. Brown, J. Hay, W. Lochead, and T. ;,iidg€o of horses, harnosa, etc., Messrs 11. E. Fineham and D. McClure; supervisor, Mr A. Drummond; timekeeper Mr D_. T. C. Mcllroy; secretary, Mr J. B. Christian. The first ploughing match since I9li, under tho auspice 3 of tho Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, was hold yesterday on Mr H. F. Nicoll'a farm, Beach road, about two miles out of Ashburton. Tho entries aggregated twonfy-ono teams as against twenty-nino for the match held in Juno, lui t. Anion*; those who entered there were six returned txildier farmers, who had served overseas and- to whom special prizes wero offered*by Mr John, Grigg, Mr D. G. Wright, and Mr G. Miller. Yeary keen interest was taken in their work. Among tlio returned eoldkra wore young farmers from Waianui, Riverside, Kaiapoi, Tinwald, and Dromore, and among tho other ploughmen the Ashburton district was well represented, and there wore competitors from as far south as Studholme Junction and as far north &s Edst Eyreton. Tho day was beautifully fino and there was a large attendance, moro especially during tlis afternoon, while among those present wero visitors from several outside A. and P. Associations. All the arrangements made by the secretary (Mr J. B. Christian) and his committee w:io »s complete as they could be matlo., The prize money offered was- on li liberal scale, just on £100 being allotted, and this was subscribed by individual members of the Association. Th© judges expressed themselves as highly pleased with tie nature of .the ground and with the arrangements which had been made the carrying out of the whole-of '.ho work of tho day. Another gratifying feature waa the number of very fino three and four-horso teams to be eesn at work. Ai the conclusion of tho day's work tho judges unsnimouoly expressed tho opinion that tho ploughing as a whole was of a high order of merit. The throe-furrow work was particularly good, and the double-furrow work of the returned soldier ftrmers was exceedingly so, and fully justiMd tho efforts which are being made to place as many returned soldiers, on the land as possible. Messrs H. E. Fineham and D. McClure, who judged the teams and harness, informed a "Press" reporter that they wero of the opinion that the horses as a whole were a credit to' tho district, and quite up to tho usual standard of Aehburon. They-recom-mended that the prize for t the best turned out- team should bo openVand not confined to four-horse teems. The results were as follows:— Class A, double furrow (open), cut as you plenee (5 entries) F. J. Merrin l, J . Brohan 2, T. Page S. Class B, double furrow (open), coulter cut, oast shares—N, Yoea 1, W. Begg 2, C. W. Chapman 3. Class C, double furrow (open), coulter cut, caat shares— G. Bennieon 1, H. Wotton 2, W. Harris 8. , Class D, thieo furrow (open), coulter cut, cast ahaies—A. Benniaon 1, M. D. McDowell 2, R. Jamieeon a. ' ScWiero' Clasees, for returned eoldiora who had served overseas:— Class G, double furrow (open), coulter cut, cast share*—W. Merrin. 1, E. T. Martin 2, T. S. Taylor 3, W. E. Bishop v h. c. Special Prizes—Cl sen A, beet feeding, F. J. Merrin; best finish, T. Page; beet ins and outs, T. Page. Class B: Best fearing, H. Vces; best finish, R. Yoss; best ins and oute, C. W. Ch-apmati. Class C: Beat foering, W. Harris; best finish, G. Benniaon; best ina and outs, G. Benniaon. Class D: Best feering, M. D. McDowell; best finish, R. Jamieson; best ins and outs, A. BennisonClass G: Best foering, W. Merrin 1, L. S. Taylor 2; bent finish, W. Merrin 1, J. E. Small U; best ins and outs, Ei. T. Martin. 1, J. E. Small 2. Teams and Harness—Beet six-horsft team. 11. 3 amioaon: beet four-horse team,' T. Taylor 1, C. C. Roberts 2; best turned oat four-borse team, L. S. Taylor; best managed 'four-horse team, C. W._ Chapman; beet kept harness, sis months in use, R. Jamieson 1. Best all round work on the ground, W. Merrin; best feering on the ground, F. J. Merrin; best finish on the ground. T. Page; prize for wage-earning ploughman with tho largest family, C. W. Chapman; youngest ploughman, M. D. MoDowell (21 years) 1, G. W. Merrin (21 years G months) oldeet ploughman, C. W. Chapman; youngest, ploughman, brother of a •returned eoldier, E. T. Marken,; first finished team, must be in prise list, W. Harris; beet all round work by a Reid and Gray ipiough, G. Benniaon; prize for. travelling longest distance, H. Yoas (68 miles).