14th October 2011

CREWKERNE: Farmers’ competition held in best ever weather

By Marion Draper

CREWKERNE Young Farmers held their 48th annual competition in the warmest conditions the event had ever seen.

Local ploughman Brian Johnston of Dottery, near Bridport, won the vintage ploughing class and the Bredy Cup for overall champion ploughman.

Spectators and fellow ploughmen and women alike enjoyed the spectacle and traditional skill of the horse ploughmen, with four teams this year working hard in the heat of the day. Robert Eddy from Penzance guided the aptly named Summertime Belle and Rhapsody to first place in the horse class and took the prize for overall best finish.

Matthew Collins leading Jewell and Darling, David Jones with Bill and Bob, also from Cornwall, and local Dave Persey with Gilbert and Priddy, from the Blackdowns, all took full advantage of the only shade available on the picturesque site at East Stoke Farm, Norton Cross, with Ham Hill in the background.

David Swaffield, of Crewkerne, took home the honours in the open reversible ploughing class, whilst Charlie Turner of Hardington, aged only 13, took first prize in the Novice Reversible Class at his first attempt.

Numbers were high this year with many using the event as a last practise before the nationals at Taunton and 83 ploughmen competed in the eight tractor ploughing classes. The competitors said it was a good day with beautiful conditions and a very good site for the competition.

Experienced ploughman Paul Studley, from Honiton, said he had attended his first match 45 years ago at the Crewkerne event and had been lucky ever since. He was one of many heading for the nationals.

The ploughing judges Jimmy Balsdon, Peter Froom, Michael Hitt, Bill Jenkin, John Kerslake, Jerry Simpson, David Wareham and Tom Wills had the difficult task of choosing the prize winners. David Hinkins undertook judging of the six individual feed classes, resulting in Anthony Jeanes from Cricket Malherbie near Ilminster being awarded the Fodder Shield after taking first place in the Maize Silage, Wholecrop and Haylage classes.

The Young Farmers Club is grateful to the ladies of the clubs advisory committee for providing refreshments and the judges lunches, to the gents of the advisory committee for stewarding on the day and marking out the plots, the Lions Club of Crewkerne for the hog roast, and to the local businesses who provided financial support including Bredy Ltd., Mike Broom Agricultural Engineer, Countrywide Farmers Ltd, Crewkerne Activity Toys, P.H. Hardwill Ltd., Highwood Ltd., H.R.H. Potatoes, Lloyds TSB plc, Mitchams Chartered Accountants, Mole Valley Farmers, N.F.U. Mutual, Pearce Seeds, Pen Mill Feeds, Colin Smart Agricultural Services, The Stokes Partnership, J.H. Swaffield and Sons, Synergy Farm Health, Wydale Plastics and Yarcombe Woodlands.

PICTURE 1: MEMBERS of the Crewkerne Young Farmers at their annual ploughing match

PICTURE 2: TED Yard from Beaminster said the ground was good but he was off line

PICTURE 3: SIMON Cullingford from Wayford and Andy Shute from Drimpton with a David Brown tractor from Gibbs of Crewkerne