RIVERSDALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 22

RIVERSDALE.

August 4.— The thirteenth annual match, under the auspices of the Waimea Plains Ploughing Match Association, was held on Wednesday last in a paddock on the ridge overlooking Riversdale, belonging to and kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr'G. M. Bell, of Wantwood. A sharp frost set in on the night preceding the match, but with the morning came a bright warm sun which soon dispelled all trace of the ' white and hoary. Probably never before" in the history of the association was the match held under such favourable circumstances as on this occasion. The weather was delightfully fine, the ground was perfection, the entries were good and varied, the teams were a grand lot that would do credit anywhere and were tastefully and attractively decorated, the number of spectators must have been close on 300, and the utmost good feel* ing prevailed on all hands. There were 18 entries ip. all, the largest since 1887. This year brought out one entry in the juniors— the first time since Thomas Keown competed singly and alone in 1886. On this occasion the only junior turned up ,in John Reid, Bon of Robert Reid, of Lumsden. and barring his uncle, Alexander Reid, he beat all local competitors hands down, as horsey men say. This should be a powerful incentive to the boys to come out, besides proving that the work done is not always and in all cases of so high a standard as ploughmen (before the match) are wont to imagine. 'EtiVRS A new feature was introduced by way of a class for men who had never ploughed before. As it was known some local business men intended competing, great interest was manifested in their first attempt. The Gore men who had signified their intention of coming forward did not turn up, the contestants being Messrs A. J. Pease, R. 1 Low, A. Sangster, and H. Andrews, representing the Buckeye Harvester Company. Another diversion from the usual practice was the debarring of special or extraordinary gearing in any class. It will be well for the committee to refrain from continuing this rule in respect to the Champion Clasß, as it js anti-progressive, and will certainly reduce the entries. The work done in Glasses A and G was fully up to the average, Classes B and E indifferent, while Class F eclipsed all expectations. On the whola, ' it may be said thera was some excellent work of high merit and some excellent work of low merit. The judges were Messrs William Waddell (Roughcraig) and George Marshall (Riverview, Gore), 1 who had a very difficult task in coming to a decision amongst the champions and in the specials . for Hbrseß. Demonstrations of approval of their decisions were given by the assembled public when the Secretary announced the following prize list :- Class A.— Champion Double Furrows (open). Firist prize, £3 ; second, £2 ; third, £1. '. Ploughman. Owner. Maker. W. Allison ...Self Gardiner ... 1 W.O.LadbrookSelf Dittos. ... 2 John King ...Self Reid & Gray 3 Alex. Reid ...Self Fowler ...0 ,R. Paterson ...Self Reid [<fc Gray 0 ..W.G.Ladbrook Self ... . ... Gardiner ... 0 : , Best break, W. Allison. Ins and outs, R. Paterson. Straightest ploughing, R. Paterson. ) "Best finish, R. Paterson. j • Class B.— Senior Double Furrows (local). For : ploughmen who have never gained a first j prize. First prize, £3 ; second, £2 ; third, £1 Jas. Keown ... W. M'Cutcheon Reid & Gray 1 .Hance Martin Wilson Hall -Ditto ... 2 -W.Stewart ...P. Belle w ...Ditto ... 3 1 < Break, ins and outs, and finish, J. Keown. p'Straight ploughing, H. Martin. Class E.— Junior Double Furrows. First prize, 'JE2 ; second, £110s; third, £1. One entry. John •Reid was awarded first prize and two specials for excellence of work. \ Class D.— Swings. No entries. Glass E.— Double Furrows, plain ploughing. First prize, £2 ; second, £1 ; third 10s. .A. Horrell ... Self Reid & Gray 1 'E. Horrell ... Self .... .... Ditto ... 2 Neil Brown ... P. Matheson, jr. Ditto ;.. d H. Davey ... W. Tayle3 ... Ditto ... 0 - Break, straightest' ploughing, and finish, A. Horrell. .Ins and outs, H. Davey.

Class F.— For men who have never ploughed • before. Prizes, three trophies. In announcing the results in this class the secretarrTfiadvertently reversed the positions of Messrß"Andrews ancl Sangster. Theaoove was field, W. Allison. Best ploughed rig by a local man, any 'Class— Silver oSfwSueß ss, gift of Wilson ifoll, Esq., to be won twice, not necessarily i» ss luwe 1 uweB Jl 10 , n ' % e *l Reid. Best matched team, Wilson Hall. Beßt three-horse team, Wilson Hall. Best four-horse team, Wilson Hall. Best groomftd horaes, Jas. Barron. Best kept harness, P. Bellew. Tastiest turn out, P. Bellew. Best horaemanship, John Reid. Man with largest families, two fat sheep -W. C. Ladbrook, Alex. Reid. First finished prize-taker, E. Horrell. dinner. - „,,.'., A dinner was held in Sangster's Hotel in' the evening when nearly 50 gentlemen were present, with the president, Mr A. J. Pease, in the chair. The usual loyal and other toasts were given and responded to, with songs interspersed, thus bring, ing to a close an enjoyable day with a social and harmonious evening.