West Melton Ploughman Wins Qualifying Event

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 6

West Melton Ploughman Wins Qualifying Event

A veteran competitor in the New Zealand ploughing championship, C. E. Head, of West Melton, qualified to compete in the championship for the eighth time when he won the Courtenay-Paparua Ploughing Match Association’s Atlantic Silver Plough qualifying event, held on Mr G. B. Hayes's property at Halkett yesterday.

Read is the first man to have qualified eight times for the New Zealand final, which will be held at Rotorua on July 20. He has competed in every final, and has taken second, third, fourth twice, and fifth placings. He farms a 350-acre cropping and sheep property. Last year’s winner of the qualifying event, J. G. Rawlinson (Methven), was fourth yesterday. R. M. Kingsbury, of Wakanui, the New Zealand champion ploughman in 1958, was second. J. R. Brown (Westerfield), another veteran competitor, who was placed second in the national championship at Outran) last year, was third.

. Competition was keen, with very little separating the first three place-getters, the judges (Messrs J. S. T. McGiffert, J. T. Wyllie, and D. G. Stewart) said. The ground, in spite of the rain in the morning, cut well, although one or two plots were soft in places. The standard of ploughing was among the best the judges had seen in a qualifying event. Read’s start being very impressive. One unusual feature was the entry in one plain ploughing class of Miss A. Bradley (Courtenay), who finished fourth in her section. Miss Bradley is 18. During the afternoon no rain fell, but the weather was overcast and very cold. Results were:—

Atlantic Sliver Plough qualifying event: C. E. Read (West Melton), 149 points, 1; R. M Kingsbury (Wakanui), 138, 2; J. R. Brown (Westerfield), 136.6. 3: , J. Rawlinson (Methven) 133 3,4: E. J. Croy (Wakanui). 130.6. 5.

Open, double furrow, coulter cut: J G. Carter (Templeton) 1, W. Holmes (Leesjon) 2, J Gardiner (Rakaia) 3. Best feering: W. Holmes. Best finish and straightest ploughing: J. D Carter

Open, tractors, three or more furrows: P. F. Dixon (West Eyreton) 1, R. Scott (Rangiora) 2, S. Kaye (Aylesbury) 3. Best feering: R. Merrin. Best finish and straightest ploughing: S. Kay*. Long board class, direct mounted, two or more furrows: J. Scott (Rangiora) I, J Stalker (Greenpark) 2. R. Stevenson (Kirwee) 3. Best feering and finish: J. Scott. Straightest ploughing: J. Stalker. District Young Farmers' Club, plain ploughing, three or more furrows: R. D. Eastmond (West Melton) 1, G. H. M. Bennett (Aylesbury) 2. D Redmond (Courtenay) 3. Best finish and feering: R. D. Eastmond Straightest ploughing: G H M. Bennett. Special awards were .—Best

all-round ploughing by a district ploughman (HororaU Ladies’ Challenge Cup), bes all-round coulter cut ploughinf IA. J. Hulston Memorial Challenge Cup): J G. Carter Bes all-round ploughing by distric ploughman under 21 (Jenningt Memorial Challenge Cup) youngest ploughman on th* ground: D Redmond. Best finish on the ground: R. M Kingsbury. Best break on the ground: C. E. Read. Best district plain ploughing (J. R Taylor Memorial Cup): D Eastmond. Dog Trials Results of the dog trials held in conjunction with the ploughing events and judged by Mr F. W. Fiecken (Tai Tapu) were:—

Open: N. W. Briggs’s Glen 96 points, 1- G. Tomlin’s Gem 91 2; N. W. Briggs's Vic. 89 3; T. Barweirs Trim, 88. 4. Maiden: M. Wilson’s Monty. 73 points, 1: H. Eder's Jill, 72, 2; T. Barwell's Bob, 67. 3.