Ploughing results

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 17

Ploughing results

The first two qualifying events for the N.Z. Ploughing Championships to be held at Gore in 1985 have now been held.

The Milford-Clandeboye Y.F.C. match was held on May 19 and the judges said the clover paddock which was ploughed was very hard and dry with some grass grub which tended to cause problems with furrows breaking. The results were: David Brown, Temuka, 154 points; Alan Begg, Ashburton, 143 points; Peter Carter, Greenpark. 140 points. The Ploughing Association special prize for a competitor with the highest points who has never qualified before went to Neville Copland of Rakaia.

The Waitaki Ploughing Match Association event was held under ideal conditions before a very large crowd of spectators on May 20. An added attraction to the 16 entries in the Mobil Silver Plough class, was an entry of 13 competitors in. the vintage ploughing class which included a great variety of tractors and ploughs dating back many decades.

The results were: first, Ivan Maw, Methven, 139 points on a countback from second placegetter, Peter Carter, Greenpark, also with 139 points; third, Ray McKenzie, Clarendon, 134 points; fourth, John Thornton, Momona, 130 points; fifth, Bruce Smith, Broadfield, 128 points on a countback from Alan Begg and Bob Mehrtens. The judges said the type

of paddock the competitors ploughed was burnt stubble and it made for a lot of concentration on the part of the ploughmen to try and hold a clearly defined furrow. Some very good seed beds were also presented, but as shown by the points in the first seven placings there was some very close competition. Southland matches during June have been rearranged somewhat and the calendar now reads: South Otago P.A., June 2; West Otago (a non-qualifying event), June 4: Tuatapere Y.F.C., June 6: Wyndham, June 7; Tokom’ariro (a non-qualifying event), June 13: Waimea Plains (note change of date). June 14; and Taieri P.M.A., June 15.