Farmers from Lymington Growmore Club and South Avon and Stour Agricultural Society go head to head in 62nd Joint New Forest Ploughing Match at Sopley

AGRICULTURAL workers have gone head-to-head in an annual ploughing contest in Sopley.

The 62nd Joint New Forest Ploughing Match saw members of Lymington Growmore Club and South Avon and Stour Agricultural Society, take part in an array of competitive classes.

Held at Sopley Field on Derritt Lane, the event also saw several local young farmers competing for the first time in nearly 50 entries across 10 classes.

Joint Ploughing Match secretary Tania Niccolls said: “There was a good number of very skilled ploughmen who entered this year, making it a tough competition.

“We also again this year had a small number of entries in their first ever ploughing contest, and a few who had not ploughed much before, created an interesting match with a good range of skills.”

Tania added: “The contest has always had a lovely community of ploughmen who are always willing to share their knowledge give advice to a novice if they had a question, despite it being a competition.”

Entries also included eight ploughmen from the Isle of Wight, who had the added challenge of getting their tractors to and from the match via the ferry.

The ground conditions were “fairly free draining”, which was considered helpful after the heavy rain leading up to the match. The windy but dry weather on the day helped dry the ground and provide good ploughing conditions.

Tania added: “This is an amazing age-old traditional agricultural event that brings the community together.

“The very wet stormy weather we experienced leading up to the match may have put a few visitors off coming to spectate, as public numbers were down slightly from our last match.”

Visitors could walk around the site to watch the ploughing, and free tractor and trailers riders were also provided by Jim Hoare.

The overall champion of the day was awarded to Clive House from East End. Reserve champion was John Niccolls from Beaulieu. Both ploughmen are members of the Lymington Growmore Club and the South Avon and Stour Agricultural Society so were awarded the champion and reserve champion club trophies.

This year all money raised from the event will be used to support the Fortune Centre for Riding Therapy based at Thorney Hill, near Bransgore.