Methven Ploughman To Go To Final

Press, Volume C, Issue 29567, 17 July 1961, Page 3

Methven Ploughman To Go To Final

John Rawlinson, aged 27, who farms with his father at Methven, won the qualifying event for the New Zealand ploughing championships at the twentyeighth ploughing match at Rakaia on Saturday. The New Zealand ploughman to take part in the world ploughing championships in France later in the year will be selected at the New Zealand final at Taieri at the end of the month, Mr Rawlinson, who has been match ploughing tor the last four years, made his first appearance in qualifying events for the national championship last year and ’his year he had ploughed in seven qualifying events before the round at Rakaia on Saturday, There was a field of five for the latest qualifying event including an Invercargill ploughman, G. Bennie, who finished fourth. Messrs 3. D. McPhedran and T. F. Carter, who were members of the three-man judging panel, agreed that competitors had done rea--sonably well considering there was a great deal of variation in the soil with the main characteristic being its looseness. Special Event A feature of the match was an event for ploughmen who had qualified previously for the New Zealand championship. Three men who have been highly placed at national meetings occupied the leading positions. The event was won by W. A. Simpson, of Oamaru, with C. E. Read, of West Melton, second, and a former New Zealand champion, R. M. Kingsbury, of Wakanui, third. Mr J. D. Henderson, who was a member of the judging team, said that although the ground was the most friable yet struck at a match in the circuit this year, the standard of work had been quite high and because they were all leading ploughmen it had not been easy to separate them out. Champion Again The veteran Templeton ploughman, J. G. Carter, showed that he had lost nothing of his skill. He was again judged champion ploughman and gained a number of prizes. G. J. S. Smith was judged the top district ploughman. Before the prizes were presented, the president, Mr T. H. Blackley, on whose property the match was held, called for a period of silence out of respect for the late Mr R, A. C. Burns, the dog trial president and a vicepresident of the ploughing association, who died last week., Results were as follows: Qualifying event for Atlantic

Silver Plough: J. Rawlinson (Me th ven), 144 points, 1; W. Bradley (Courtenay). 135 pointe. 2; J. Stalker (Greenpark), 119 2-3 points, 3; G. Bennie (Invercargill). 113 points, 4; G. dough (Timaru), Iff? points. 5. Special event for ploughmen who had previously qualified m the Atlantic Silver Plough class; W. A. Simpson (Oamaru). IMI.H pointe, 1; C. E. Read (West Melton), 152 points. 2; R. M Kingsbury (Wakanui), 149.6 pointe, 3. Double furrow (open), coulter cut, plain oast shares, ground as you please: J. G. darter (Templeton), 1; R. G. Fraser (Ashburton), 2; G. J. S. Smith (Rakaia). 3. Break, finish and straightest ploughing: J. G Carter. Three or more furrow* (open), coulter cut, plain cast shares, ground as you please: L. A. Breading (Rakaia), 1; P. D. Carter (Greenpark). 2. Break and finish: L. A. Breading. Straightest ploughing: A. Seyb. Two <w more furrows (open), under 19 years, plain ploughing, plain cast shares, ground as you please: G. T. Carter (Greenpark), I; P. F. Dixon (West Eyreton), 2; K. Smack (Tinw-ald), 3. Break and finish: P. E. Dixon. Straightest ploughing: M. Seaton (Courtenay). Four furrows (open), plain ploughing, plain cast shares, ground as you please: M. Donaldson (Ashburton), 1; F. McGuigan (Chertsey), 2; P. J, Watson (Tinwald), 3. Break: P. McCarten (Chertsey). Straightest ploughing and finish: M. Donaldson. Open Young Faarmers' Club, two or more furrows, plain ploughing, plain cast shares, ground as you please: M. Davison (Rolleaton), 1; A. R. Johnston (Rakaia), 2 G. W'. R. Inch (Hororate), 3. Break and finish: M. Davison. Straightest ploughing: G. W. R. Inch. The main special prizes were won as follows: best district ploughman, G. J. Smith: champion plough-man on the ground. J. G. Carter; beet break on ground, M. Davison: best finish on ground, J. G. Carter; best all round plot by district competitor, G. J. S, Smith. Dog Trial Results of clog trials held in conjunction with the match by the Rakaia Collie Club were:— Open: R, M. Wilson’s Speed, 89 pointe, 1; R. M. WUsoh's Craig, 88J pointe, 2; C. A. McKay's Nap and E. G. Milne’s Maid, 88 pointe (equal). 3. Open district: E. G. Milne’s Maid. 88 pointe, 1; H. M. King’s Bruce. S 3 points, 2; B. T. Hanrahan’s Tip. 72 pointe, 3. H. M. King’s Zan, 711 pointe. 4. Run-off of four leading dogs for Mr H. J. Smith’s trophy: R. M. Wilsons Speed, 17« j pointe, 1; Mr D. J. Vaughan's trophy: E. G. Milne's Maid, 88 points, 1. Open maiden: R. M. Wilson's Craig 861 pointe, 1; E. G. Milnes Maid, 88 pointe, 2. District E - G - Milne’s Maid, 88 points, 1; J. B. T. Hanrahan’s Tip, 72 pointe 2. Bitch with highest pointe: E. G. Milne’s Maid, 88 points, L