PLOUGHING MATCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18135, 26 July 1924, Page 17

PLOUGHING MATCH.

RAKAIA ASSOCIATION. The Bakaia is lacking i» « OJE _ 6 °? the essentially fanners' institutions, ffficn 99 <ui A. and P. Association, Farmers' Union, etc., that hold sway in other plaees in Canterbury, but this fact only adds to the keenness displayed by the men on the land in the welfare of their own Ploughing Association. But thero is eo me thing eo inherently primitive, bo much of the "back to Nature" call, in the cult of the plough, that this interest is not confined to those whose daily work lies in this direction. This was amply shown yesterday when all clsases of the community gathered in largo numbers at tho grounds of J£r H. "Wilkinson, at Hatfield, to witness the annual ploughing match ot the Rakaia Association. The weather waa fine, but a, hard frost in the morning delayed the time ol starting till eleven o'clock. There was clear cuoshine throughout the day, but a rather cold wind blew. The contest took place in a very largo paddock, which provided ample room for the very large number of competitors at work. The sample was fairly even throughout, only a small amount of twitch being met in one part. At tho time of starting tho frost waa still in the ground, and caused a little trouble to 6ome competitors. In two respects the Rakaia Association chums a record for ploughing matches; one in tho value of the prizes given, about £l5O, and the other in regard to tho number of entries received. The latter was fifty, beating that of a sister association by three. One pleasing feature of the match waa the manner in which the local ploughmen supported tho Association, as it waa in the District dames, 0 and D, that the big increase in entries was received. No competitors appeared, however, in Class F, for district youths under eighteen years of age. It is likely that next year an alteration will be made in the conditions of this class.

There were on view in a glass case on tho ground the eight very fine cups and other prizes given to the Association. Two es« hibits of special interest were a gold medal and a silver cup lent by Mr J. McPhail, of Rokeby. The gold medal wag won by him for his single furrow ploughing in 1874, at the first ploughing match ever held in Rokaia. The silver cup was a first prize for the best feering and finish, won. in 1878, at the first ploughing match held in Chertsey. Among the entrant® were Messrs J. B. Lindsay and W. Allison, champion ploughmen from Drummond, Southland; Mr A. Brown, of Waihao Downs; Master K. Wylie, of Sefton, whose age is only sixteen, and Mr J. Calder, of Halkett, who has only ono arm. There was . also present at the function Mr T. Skevington, the Association'# first president, who made a journey of eighty miles in order to be present. The gate mosey amounted to about £lB. Special mention mast be made of the very high standard of the teams of horses. This was particularly noticeable in the six-horse teams, and the judges specially commended the first and second prizewinners, H. E. Cook and W. Boag. Prominent workers in connexion with the success of the gathering were: Mr B. Oakley, president; Mr W. B. McNamara, vice-president; Mr A. Holme®, secretary! and Mr L. Cordner, treasurer. A demonstration of a "Hustler" cultivator was given on the ground, while in a paddock further along the road a tractor plough gave oa exhibition of its work.

The judges were as follows:—Classes A, B, and E: Messrs J. Turnbull (Tinwald), and J. Gilmour (Tai Tapu). Classes C, D, and F: Mlessre A. J. Hula ton (Hallett), and G. Miller (Highbank). Deooraifions, harness and groom ago: Messrs G. Withers (Kirwee), and J. Richsid* (Christchurch). Team®: Messrs P. Shearer (Wheatstone, Ashburton), and E. E. Jenkins (Dunsandel). The »• suits were:— Class A, open, double-furrow, cut-sa-you-please: Ist £4, 2nd' £3, 3rd £2, jtth —J. B. Lindsay (jDrummond), 1; W. DiTstn (Tiraaru), ; 2; W. Allison (Drommond), 3. Spocial prizes—Beet feering: W. Divan 1, A. .Brown. Beet finish: J. B. Lindsay 1, W. Drvan 2. Winner of Mr H. Hanison's cup for most points in Class A; 3. B. Lindsay. Clasa B, open, double-farrow, coulter cot as you please, plain cast ground as you please; let £A. 2nd £3, 3rd £2 10a, 4th £2, sth £1 10s, 6th £l, 7th 10b—K. Wylie 1, F. B. Taylor 2, F. Carter 3, J. Colder 4, W. T. Stephens S, D. Mamas 6, J. G. Wylie 7. Special priieo—Best feering: J. d. Wylie 1, K. Wylie 2. Best finish: X. F. Carter 1, J. Calder 2. Winner of the late Mr T. A. Bleckley's cap for most points in Class B: K. Wylie. Class C, district, double-furrow, cut ab you piease, plain cast shares, ground as you pieaeo;' Ist £4. 2nd £3, 3rd £2, 4th £l—V. .boag 1, A. Oakley 2, L. Boag 8, S. Douglas 4. iipedal priies—Best feering: V. Boag 1, L. Boag "2. Best - finish: •A: Oakley 1, S. Douglas 2. Winner of Mr A.,J. Magson'e cup for most points in CTaas, C: V. Boag. ' Class D, district, three-furrow-, out as you please, plain cast shares, ground aa you please; Ist .£4, 2nd £3, 3rd £2, ,4th £l—W. Mao Donald 1, J. W. Benbow 2, W. Kearra 3,- N. Bichards 4. Special prises—Beat feering: W. Kearns.l, S. Wilson 2. Best finish: F. Wilson 1. J. W. Winner cf Mr C. C. Holmes's cup fox most points in Class D: W. Mac Donald. Class E, open, three-furrow,; ooultor «jut as you■ please, plain cast , shares, ground as you please; Ist £4, 2nd £B, 3rd £2, 4th £l— W. Hanna 1, J. Kevern 2, J. B. Wylie 3, J. Merrin 4. Special prizes—Best feering: J. W. Hanna 1, M. G. Wilson 2. Best finish: J: Kevern 1, M. G. Wilson 2. Winner of Mr R, Oakley'e cup for most points in Class B: J. W. Hanna. BEST TEAMS. Three-horse—J i Carmichael 1, H. E. Cook 2. Four-horse —W. Leatham 1, O. .Rudd 2. Six-horse—H. E. Cook 1, W. Boag 3, G. McLachlaJi 3. .Best utility six-hotae team—W. Boag. DECORATIONS,' ETC. Three or fair-hoise ioszas—C. Bxtdd 1, VT. Leatbam 2. Five, or six-horse teama—H. B. Cook G. McLachlan 2. Best. kept harness, three or four-hone teams—-W. Leatham I, C. Budd 2. Five or aix-horse team*—H. Poster 1, G. McLnchlan 2. Best groomed team, three or four-horse— O. Rudd 1, J. Strachan 2, W. Leatham 3. Five or six-horser-G. seLaeh'an 1, R. Oakley 2, H. E.: Cook 3. > Youngest ploughman on ground—SL Wylia (16 years). Oldest ploughman—W. Boag (55 yean). Most points for harness, decorations aad grooming (servant>—W. Tickle. Best feering on ground—W. Divan. . Best finish on ground—J. B. Lindsay.