Ploughman wins on own ground

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 27

Ploughman wins on own ground

It was perhaps not surprising that Gordon Carter qualified to plough in the New Zealand championships at the annual match of the Lincoln Ploughing Match Association last week — he was ploughing on the property he and his brother have at Greenpark. Carter was two points ahead of a former New Zealand champion, David Brown, of Temuka, in the qualifying event, which attracted a field of II competitors coming from as far away as Marlborough and South Canterbury. Mr Carter has been a regular competitor in national ploughing. He said after his win that it would be about the twelfth or thirteenth time that he had qualified to plough in the final, which will be held this year in South Canterbury. Conditions were not easy for the ploughmen. Mr 1. M. Jordan, who was one of the judges for the qualifying event, described it as a testing paddock. One of the difficulties was dealing with lucerne roots and Mr Jordan said that those with sharp equipment made a much better job. Another member of the judging panel, Mr R. M. Kingsbury, said that the area was not easy for the ploughmen, probably because it had been down longer than the type of ground they normally ploughed. Consequently

the work was not of a high standard. Gordon Carter was also credited with having ploughed the best plot on the ground and with being the best district ploughman. A class for ploughmen who have already qualified to compete in the championships was won by P. Dixon (Rangiora), who also had the best finish on the ground. J. D. Wyllie (Timaru) did the best break on the ground. The Young Farmers’ Club member ploughing the best plot was D. Seyb (Timaru), and N. Winter (Swannanoa) was the best juvenile competitor. Rain started to fall as the match ended, making conditions very greasy. A number of vehicles had to be helped out of the paddock. Results were: Atlantic Silver Plough qualt tying event —Carter 147 points, 1; Brown, 145, 2; W. J. Winter (Swannanoa), 13», 1; B. Smith (Broadfteid), 133, 4. Event for quallSera.—Dixon X, R. Mehrtens (Seadown) 2. Open double furrow, coulter cut, plain cast shares, ground at you please—J. Davison (Kakaia) 1, J. G. Gardiner (Hakala) 2, Wylile 3. Beat finish: K M. Duncan (Christchurch). Beat break: Wvllle. Stralghteat ploughing: W. Holmes (Southbridge i. Open, hydraulic or trailer ploughs, two or more furrows, plain standard steel or cast shares ground as you please, coulter to revolve on near side of beam, spilt L J. Stewart (Rakalai 2. B. Redmond (Methven) 3, B. Scott (Lincoln) 4. Break and rtralghtest ploughing: Stbwart. Finish Redmond.