Record entries compete at 172nd Ploughing Match and Country Show

A record entry of more than 50 ploughmen and women competed to take home trophies at the 172nd Ploughing Match and Country Show on Sunday.

The event, organised by the Royal East Berks Agricultural Association (REBAA) at the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) got off to a damp and grey start.

But that did not stop ploughmen and women from turning out to compete in different ploughing classes to win one of many trophies on offer.

A breakfast was provided by Fernygrove Farm Shop, and the blessing of the plough was carried out by Burchetts Green vicar Rev Tom Etherton.

The wet conditions did prove ‘a challenge’ for some of the older and smaller tractors, but organisers said some ‘good work was done in the field’.

Visiting ploughman Graham Clifton claimed victory in the championship, using a wartime Fordson tractor and vintage trailed plough.

The prestigious Sir Richard Haddon Cup was won by Terry Sayer for the best work by a local ploughman and local farmer’s son George Randall took home the prize for the best ploughing by a Young Farmers’ Club member.

The horses ‘worked steadily on’ at the show, ‘apparently unfazed by the weather’, organisers said.

Emma and Chris Brace claimed victory in their class with their ‘magnificent pair’ of Suffolk Punch horses.

Royal Borough mayor Cllr Mandy Brar and her consort Harry Brar braved the wet conditions in the ploughing field and ‘showed a great interest in discovering some of the finer points of the competition’.

The weather brightened up towards the end of the morning and the pair visited the trade stands, located around the showground and presented prizes to the Shorts Group for the best sponsors’ trade stand and Guy Philp for his wood carving stall.

Guests enjoyed a display of vintage machinery in memory of the REBAA’s former president Tony King, and one of the ploughing plots was reserved for well-known ploughman Charlie Belcher, who recently passed away.

A fan favourite was the fun dog show run by Old Beams Kennels, which saw a ‘large entry’ from the community.

The produce show was ‘very well supported’ this year, organisers said, with benches laden with vegetables, fruit, flowers, preserves, baking and handicraft.

Members Ed and Christabel Goodwin took the Joy Cup for the best flowers and James Headington won the Lady Rycroft Cup for his sculpture of a kangaroo; made from items he salvaged from the scrap bin in his farm workshop.

Local farmers brought along samples of their harvested crops to be judged.

Randall Farms scooped the AJ Bucknell tray for the most points in these classes.

Simon Mabbott, winner of the small farm class, was awarded the King George VI Cup for supreme farm champion.

The King George V Cup for the most points in the farm crop classes was awarded to Emmett Farming.

Many of the entries showcased on the day were sold by sponsors Simmons and Sons in the afternoon auction, together with produce donated by Copas Farms, which helped raise funds for Thames Valley Adventure Playground (TVAP) and Thames Hospice.

The proceeds from the tea, coffee and cake stall, which was run by association members, were donated to Prostate Cancer Research and Thames Hospice – which also

collected donations for the tractor and trailer rides, provided by Copas Traditional Turkeys.