PLOUGHING MATCH

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LI, Issue 66, 19 August 1930, Page 5

PLOUGHING MATCH

THE 1930 CHAMPIONSHIP.

HELD AT PREBBLETON TO-DAY.

/ CONDUCTED BY LINCOLN ASSOCIATION.

, To-day the championship ploughing match of the Dominion is being held under the auspices of the Lincoln Ploughing Match Association in a paddock at Prebbleton on the farm of Mr P. W. Carpenter. The Association's luck in the matter of weather conditions has changed at last. The conference of Ploughing Match Associations allotted the championship fixture to the Lincoln Association last year, but after two postponements due to wet weather the match finally had to be abandoned. Because of last year's misfortune the Conference decided that Lincoln should have this year's royal or championship contest. The date allotted was July 29, but as that was the date chosen for the Lincoln College jubilee celebrations an arrangement was made

with Paparua-Courtenay anfl North Canterbury Associations to put their matches back, so that Lincoln could have August 5. Both July 29 and August 5 were wet days, the latter particularly so, the paddock being in i a flooded state. So a further postponement had to be made, and as I last week was Grand National week, it was considered that to-day would be the earliest suitable < date. It is hoped that the Association will not be'handicapped by bad weather again for a long time. The paddock placed at the Association's disposal by Mr Carpenter is quite suitable for the purpose. Except far a gully which runs through it the ground is fairly even and it is firm enoiigh to enable the competitors to turn up a neat furrow. The gully, of course, is not being ploughed, the plots being marked out on either side of it. The ground is as dry underfoot as could be expected at \ this time of the year and there appears to be a very good attendance. It is a great sight to see over 30 plough teams at work in one paddock, not to mention about nine tractors. The teams are some of the best in the Dominion. In the matter of entries the Association has been well favoured—in fact, it seems to have received a larger number than any other Association, with the possible exception of South Canterbury. In all there are 41, which must be regarded as very satisfactory these times. Although the entries were made prior to the

original date chosen for the match, the competitors, with only two exceptions, have turned up to-day, perhaps as much with the idea of helping the Association through as to share in the prices. In that respect they have Shown a very good spirit, for some of them have had to travel long distances and go to much trouble to be present. In the open double furrow cut-as-you-please, or fancy cut, class there are four competitors, which is a fair average for class A. They are four well known and very capable men, W. J. Gibson (Papakaio), A. Brown (Morven), P. Dugan (Riccarton) and H. Voss (Willowbridge). Their work which, of course, differs from the ordinary type of farm ploughing, is very neat and has been attracting a great deal of attention all day. Easily the strongest section is class B, in which there are iv, comipetitors, drawn from Rakaia, Tycho, JTe Pirita, Halkett, Aylesbury, Timaru and Templeton, This is a D.F. coulter cut, plain cast shares class, for competitors who have not won I more than two first prizes prior to 1930. Competition is exceptionally keen amongst these men and the judges will have no easy task in making the awards, not only for the ploughing, but for the feering and

finishing as well. The district D.F. class, in which previous winners are jnot eligible to compete, has drawn five entries, and the men are all doling well. In the D.F. class for youths under 18, there are five competing, all of them lads showing much promise. Their work is highly creditable and the class is attracting quite as much interest as any other. Some of the youths should be heard of again later in the senior classes. There are three open three-furrow classes, there being a stipulation in one case that competitors who have previously won a first prize in any match are not eligible, so that the class is really a maiden one. The open class has drawn five entrants, the addresses being Morven, Aylesbury, West Melton, Rakaia and Sefton. There are three in the maiden 3-F class, only one, L. Thomas, being a district man. The others come from Somerton and Courtenay. There are two tractor classes, one for district men, which has drawn four competitors, and the other open. The latter has attracted five entries. In both classes good work is being done, the men showing skill in the handling of both tractor and plough. The judges are: Ploughing, Messrs J. C. Hay (Morven), T. Hanna (Sexton), F. Merrin (West Eyreton), W. M. Skevington (Longbeach), W. Merrin (Eyreton) and W. Wright (Riccarton); decorations, grooming and harness, Messrs E. Hall (Sunnyside), H. E. Fincham (The Peaks);

teams, Messrs A. Grant (Fairlie) and W. J. Doak (Wakanui). As usual, the management of the match is all that anyone could desire. It is a well known fact that competitors who do the round of matches speak in very favourable terms of ttte management at the Lincoln Association's fixture and of the treatment they always receive there. To the honorary secretary, Mr J. Pearson, who has held the office for a long term of years, and who has always been regarded as a most capable organiser, the major share of the credit is due for the smooth running of all the arrangements. -As president, Mr P. V. Bailey is not only exceptionally popular, but also enjoys the fullest confidence of his officials and all concerned with the match. A very keen enthusiast, he has given a great deal of time to furthering the Association's interests, and it has reason to congratulate itself upon having retained his services as president. The Association adheres as rigidly as possible to the timetable set down, and this is a feature worthy of commendation. All the stewards and i other officials are well acquainted with their duties and to-day's arrangements have been running very smoothly in consequence. To-night a social will be held in the Springston Hall, when the prizes will be handed to the winners. It is hoped that some of the judges may remain to give their views concerning the work done to-day and any hints which may be helpful for the future.

SOME AWARDS,

The following awards had been .nacle up to the time of going to press:—Blue ribbon for bc&t mare on the jround—J. p. Langley's Bloss. Best three-horse team.—W. H. Joyle 1, Lincoln College 2. Best 4-horse team.—R. A. Oakley 1, J. H. Pannett 2. Best 6-horse team.—J. F. Langley 1, H. E. Cook 2. ' Best kept harness.—3-horse team: W. H. Boyle 1, College 2, P. V. Bailey 3; 4-horse team, R. A. Oakley 1, J. H. Pannett 2; 6-horse team, H. ~E. Cook 1, J. F. Langley 2; district only, K. Boyle. Decorations.— 3-horse team, P. V. Bailey 1, K. Boyle 2; 4-horses, R. A. Oakley 1, j. h. Pannett 2; 6 horses, J. F. Langley l, H. E. Cook 2. Grooming—3-horse team, College 1, jP. V. Bailey 2; 4 horses, R. A. Oakley 1, J. H. Pannett 2; 6 horses, J. F. Langley 1, H. E. Cook 2. Most points grooming, decorations and harness, R. A. Oakley. Feering—Class E, E. G. Hay; *eiass G, D. Butcher.