Stubble ploughed on first day of contest

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 3

Stubble ploughed on first day of contest

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, July 16.

This year’s New Zealand ploughing championships were half completed by the middle of this afternoon, but no results will be announced until late tomorrow afternoon, when the grassland ploughing is completed.

Today each of the 22 competitors representing ploughing match associations and young farmers’ clubs all over the country had about a halfacre of stubble to plough. This is the second year the championships have been held over two days, on the lines of the world championships; previously the championship was decided on grassland ploughing alone. ' For the second time since the championships began inj 1956, this year’s contest hasi been organised by the Timaru Ploughing Match) Association, and is being; held at Seadown, about 10' miles from Timaru.

CLEAR DAY

After a sharp frost early! in the day, the ploughing began at noon in clear, sunny! conditions, the. flags flanking the ground hanging motionless and with snow-capped hills and mountains a backdrop. After rain on Wednesday the ground was a little greasy on top and some of the tractor-wheels gathered straw as they moved along, but Mr A. L. Coleman, of Ladbrooks, who is one of . the six-man panel of judges, said that the rain had been beneficial for the ploughing. Mr Coleman, who was one of three men judging the openings, crowns and the body of the work, said that there would be about six weil-ploughed plots among the 22, but only one or two outstanding breaks, and only about two top-class finishes. Messrs J. T. B. Wyllie ! (Amberley) and J. A.- Lindsay

(Riverton), who were among the three judges looking at the general appearance of the ploughing and the ins and outs, said that about six plots were of reasonable appearance, the balance being average. The standard of ins and outs was “quite fair,” they said. MATCH VETERAN For a week-day, the congest attracted a fair-uiumber i of spectators, and ■ among 'these were of Rosewil), who was president of the Timaru Ploughing Match Association when the last national championships (Were held in the district 11 j years ago. Now aged almost 80, Mr i Divan was a successful competitor in a ploughing match held near this year’s contest

site 63 years ago. He was greeted on the contest ground by Mr W. G. Miller, of Gore, who judged with him in the first New Zealand ploughing championships in 1956. Mr Miller has never missed attending a championship. A number of former national champions were following the ploughing today, including Mr H. A. Magson, lof Rokeby, in Mid-Canter-[bury, who was second in the [world match in France in 11961. I ' WIDE EXPERIENCE Three former champions are among the competitors this year, including last year’s winner, K. J. Taylor, ■of Clinton, in South Otago, and only two of the competitors have not ploughed before in a New Zealand contest.