PLOUGHMEN PRACTISE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31364, 9 May 1967, Page 1

PLOUGHMEN PRACTISE

Overseas competitors in the world ploughing championship had their first New Zealand practice in a paddock opposite Lincoln College yesterday. One of the German competitors, J. Schmid, is seen ploughing his plot of old pasture.

Two brothers, J. A. Barr and T. J. Barr, of Northern Ireland, could be the favourites in the contest on Friday and Saturday. Yesterday the Barr brothers ploughed a little more ground than other competitors, and their work attracted considerable interest. They worked with the confidence of men who are no strangers to international competition. Most of the overseas competitors concentrated on adjusting their ploughs in a paddock of old pasture, but the

going was very dry and hard. All competitors have been allocated two plots—one in old pasture, and the other in stubble—and practice will continue until tomorrow night. Yesterday most of the competitors ploughed only small strips, then walked around the ground and assessed the work of other ploughmen. Most of the spectators were representatives of firms interested in the tractors or ploughs. I. Blair, one of the New Zealand competitors, was one of only two competitors to practise in the stubble plots, where the going was much easier.

Moscow Visit—The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr Sharifuddin Pirzada, began a six-day visit to Russia yesterday amid speculation that he would explore the possibility of obtaining Soviet military supplies for Pakistan.— Moscow, May 8.