YOUNG PLOUGHMAN FOR N.Z. FINAL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 14

YOUNG PLOUGHMAN FOR N.Z. FINAL

Young and old ploughmen were successful at the thirtythird annual match and dog trial of the North Canterbury Ploughing Matt.li and Dog Trial Association on the property of Mrs A. P. Bennett at Swannanoa on Saturday T. Brown, aged 19. of Wcsteriieid becurae the first ploughman Ln Mid or North Canterbury to qualify for the New Zealand ploughing championship which will be held on July 20 at Rotorua in the qualifying round Brown ploughed next to h.s father, J R. Brown, who was runner-up m the national championship at Invercargill last year. J. R. Brown finished in third . place, behind J. Rawlinson, of Meth ven, who was also a finalist last year.

T. Brown began ploughing when he was aoout 12 years old, and is in liis fourth year of match ploughing. He ploughed in the championship Atlantic .Silver Plougn class for the first time last year. His father has been his coach.

At the other end of the scale. J. G. Carter, of Templeton, who won the Astiworth Cup for ploughing the best plot on the ground and also made the best break and finish of anyone on the ground. has been match ploughing for 40 years. He found that conditions on Saturday were among the most difficult and testing that he has encountered.. Judges' Task

Mr A. L. Coleman, of Ladbrooks, who was one of -the threo judges for the qualifying event for the New Zealand championship, described his task on Saturday as twice as difficult as the one he had when he was a judge at the national final at Invercargill last July Although there had been sonie rain earlier in the week the furrows broke up badly and at one end of the field the soil was relatively dry. The paddock had been in lucerne, and the roots further complicated the task of the ploughman Mr Coleman said that it was difficult to give a fair judgment. The ploughmen had been doing their best under the circumstances but some of these were out of their control.

There was also another complicating factor. Fog hung over the field in the early stages of the ploughing and judges could not see from one end of a ploughman’s plot to the other. After the signal had been given for ploughmen to start work the president, Mr J. S. T. McGiffert, Went round to make sure that all ploughmen were aware that they were due to start. At a later stage a judge was mystified by a small wave of fog that suddenly drifted across a plot obscuring his view The North Canterbury District Young Farmers’ Club championship was held in conjunction with the match. It was won by J K. Forrester, of Hawarden. P F. Dixon, of West Melton, won the CustWest Eyreton club championship.

Results were: Qualifying event for national ploughing championship: T. Brown. 140 1 points. 1; J. Rawlinson 136.2, 2; J R. Brown. 134 9,3: C E Read (West Melton >, 132 5. 4, M Donaldson I Ashburton I. 139 2. 5. Double furrow (open) coulter cut. plain cast shares: J G Carter 1. W Holmes (Southbridge: 2. J Gardiner ißakaia' 3 Best break and finish: J G Carter. Two or more furrows (open) plain ploughing, plain coulter, plain cast shares R Merrin East Eyretoni I. K Schmack (Willoughby) 2. L Hartnett (Rakaiai 3 Best break: U Merrin Best finish: K Schmack

Two or more furrows, plain ploughing long board, open to North Canterbury District Y.F.C. members only: J K Forrester 1, P F Dixon 2. J Scott ißangiora) 3 Best break P F. Dixon. Best finish: J K Forrester.

Two or more furrows, plain ploughing, short board, open to North Canterbury district Y.F.C members only: D. Carmichael Oxford) 1. G Frazer (Horrelvillei 2. W J L Winter Swannanoa) 3 Best break: W J L Winter Best finish D Carmichael Dog Trial Open: R Dixons Trump, 97 points. 1; N Briggs' Glen. 96. 2: R Dixon's Jet. 91. 3 Distnct R Dixons Trump. 97. 1; R Dixon’s Jet, 91. 2; P. Newton's Star. 86J. 3 Maiden and district maiden: R Dixon’s Jet. I: C Dymock’s Rob. 79J. 2; H Eder’s Jill. 75J. 3