A ploughman’s dilemma

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 16

A ploughman’s dilemma

A Tasmanian ploughman .has arrived in Christchurch with his fingers crossed. Mr Gerald Bacjcock won the last Australian ploughing champiqnships, and is one of fha two Australian competitors in tlie world ploughing contest to be held near Lincoln on May 16 and 17. His plough left home on March 14 for New Zealand, and should have arrived at Lyttelton weeks ago. After he received word that it had not arrived and was missing, hectic inquiries disclosed that it was still on the wharf at Sydney. A promise was given that *it would be shipped, and it should be at Lyttelton soon. Mr Badcock said he preferred to use his own plough because he knew it better and felt easier using it. If he took over a new plough he would have to do 50 to 100 acres of

i ploughing with it before it - would perform well. s Ip the same container as his plough are some parts a that his Australian colleague, Stewart Badcock, s also from Tasmania, will i use wi(h a plough that he 1 will borrow in New Zea- ! land for the contest. Stewi art is a distant relative of Gerald. i The two men possibly had an advantage in the last Australian champion5 " ships, which were held at 1 Westbury in Tasmania, familiar country to them . both. I Tasmania will also be ! the scene of the world championships in 1982. I Gerald and the Australian , coach, Mr J. A. Morrison, from Victoria, said that the island had been chosen for the contest because i ' the Tasmanian Govern-. ■ ment had pledged support. ’ Contestants in the world contest will begin praci tising at Lincoln College ’ on May 12.