Show judges Plough granted Designmark

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 23

Show judges Plough granted Designmark

The judges for Ashburton’s A. and P. Show this week-end are as follows:

In the sheep section: Merino — Mr A. A. Innes, Fairlie; Corriedale — Rams, Mr D. A. Earl. Ashburton: Ewes. Mr R. G. B. Reid, Darfield; Romney — Rams Senior. Mr B. W. Rae,- Oamaru: Ewes Senior, Mr N. Chamberlain. Christchurch: Rams Junior, Mr P. Alport, Timaru: Ewes Junior, Mr D, Marr, Mt Hutt; English Leicester — Mr R. W. Cameron, Kurow; Border Leicester — Rams, Mr T. R. Caird, Timaru; Ewes, Mr A. W. Low, Rakaia; Southdown — Mr T. Marshall, Oamaru: Dorset Down — R. Goodson, Waimate; Hampshire — Mr W. R. Thayer, Gore; South Dorset Down — L. J. Begg, Ashburton; South Suffolk — Mr D. J. Stewart, Ashburton; Poll Dorset - Mr S. M. Boon, Dunsandel; Flock Sheep Classes — Mr L. J. Chilton, Ashburton; Black and Coloured — Mr D. G. Percy. Ohoka; Prime Lambs — Mr E. Inskter, Darfield; Primary School Boys and Girls Section— Mr P. H. Letham, Ashburton; Wool Section — Mr B. Lloyd. Ashburton; Black and Coloured Wool — Miss M. Murray, Amb erley.

Cattle: Beef Cattle — Mr H. McLay, Ashburton; Milking Shorthorn Cattle — W. Small. Ashburton; Ayrshire Cattle — Mrs L. E. Willan, Leeston; Jersey cattle — Mr R. Tate. Christchurch; Friesian — D. H. Leslie, Kaiapoi; Junior Judge — I. Bryant, Outram; Primary Girls and

Boys Section — Mr I. Bryant, Outram. Goats: Dairy — Mr R. Upston. Swannanoa; Angora — Mrs E. Garland, Hakataramea.

Pigs: Mr R. D. Pattullo, Christchurch: Associate Judge — Mr P. R. Molloy. Sheffield.

Sheep dogs: Mr M. Bell. Rakaia; Sheep dog trials — Mr W. G. Ellery. Mayfield.

In the horse section: Saddle horses and hunters — Mr R. Mills. England; Hunters — Mr R. Mills; F.E.I. Jumping — Messrs R. Williamson, and N. Mathieson; Welsh ponies — Mr A. E. Skudder, Timaru; Arabs — Mrs B. A. Morrissey, Greenpark; Standard bred horses — Mr G. Kelly, Ashburton; Saddle ponies — Group A, Mrs W. R. Tilson; Group B. Mr R. Mills, England; Group C. Mr M. Black, Waiau; Jumping events — Mr M. Preece, Mrs P. Meyer, Mr A. B. Hight: Hacks — Mr R. Mills; Park Hacks — Mrs E. J. Richards. Timaru; Clydesdales — Mr J. Irwin, Rakaia, Harness horses — Mr K. Bush, Sefton: Harness ponies — Mr K. Bush, Sefton; Saddle Cobs — Mrs H. Mulligan, Halswell; Led ponies — J. F. •V. Digby, Ashburton: Ridden ponies — Group A, Mrs W. R. Tilson: Group B, Mr R. Mills, England; Group C, Mr M. Black, Waiau; Quarter horses — Mr J. I. Innes. Fairlie: Western performance — Mr T. M. Brown, Albury; Open Western Equitation — Mr J. I. Innes, Fairlie. Donkeys: J. F. V. Digby, Ashburton.

A design of plough new to the New Zealand market will be a special feature of the machinery display at the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Show this week-end. Designed and manufactured by an Ashburton man. Mr Neal Dunnill, the stump jump (or trip beam) plough has been awarded the Designmark by the New Zealand Industrial Design Council. In granting this, the council described the plough as an “innovative” design. The plough was among the top four semi-finalists in the agricultural products category of the Prince Philip Award.

Basically the stump jump plough has been designed in several sections so that should it hit a solid object the blade will jump (or trip). This avoids, damage to the blades. Based on European and American designs in ploughs, the beams have been completely reconstructed and raised slightly to allow the shear to trip out. The stump jump plough is of solid beam construction. It has adjustable lockover safety beams which allows the share of the plough to jump out of the ground under certain pressure conditions. Instead of having to punch

or drill out a broken shear pin the tractor driver raises the plough on his hydraulics and manually pushes the particular shear down into place. At present a ten furrow plough is being built at the Ashburton workshop for a local farmer. “One of the marvellous features of this plough is that it can be adjusted to suit individual working conditions,” Mr Dunnill said. Although considerably more expensive than the conventional plough. Mr Dunnill claims maintenance of the stump jump plough will be minimal. All the bearings

are sealed which means the need for constant greasing is eliminated.

The first stump jump plough was designed by Mr Dunnill in May of this year. Since then four machines have been built all custommade for farmers in Southland.

“It was just a matter of listening to the farmers." Mr Dunnill said.

Having ploughed in both New Zealand and Australia Mr Dunnill also had the advantage of first hand experience of ploughing in difficult conditions.

The Designmark status has also created a lot of interest in the plough, particularly from Australia. Mr Dunnill believes the manufacture and export of the stump jump plough across the Tasman is now a very real possibility.