Fingers crossed for some fine ploughing weather
PLOUGHMEN and women from all over Great Britain will be travelling to Derbyshire this weekend (October 8 and 9) for the 71st British Ploughing Championships and Country Festival.
Event organisers are watching the ever-changing weather forecasts closely and keeping their fingers crossed that the sun will shine for them at the 250 acre site at Glapwell, North-east Derbyshire.
Chief executive of the Society of Ploughmen, Sue Frith, said: “The forecast is good for the weekend with rain earlier in the week. In fact, the competitors will probably welcome the rain after the hot, dry summer we have had as it will make the ground better to plough.”
The championships are held in a different part of the country each year and this is the first time it has ever been held in the county of Derbyshire in its history, occupying part of the Chatsworth Estate which has been loaned by kind permission of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who will be presenting the winners’ trophies on the final day of the event.
Almost 250 competitors will be taking part in 15 different classes over the two days, from heavy horses, to garden tractors, conventional, reversible and various vintage tractor and club ploughing classes.
The top 10 in six of the classes will go through to plough for the champion titles on the second day, aiming for the supreme title and the chance to represent England in the 2023 world and European ploughing championships.
Main sponsors of the event are Bridgestone Firestone, Aztec Oils and Continental Tyres, with further support from Lantra, Tama Farm Grown Solutions, Dales Agri Sales, Cheffins, Dalton Tags, Cereals Event, Homefire, Ripon Farm Services, Russells, Howard Marshall Engineering, B&B Tractors, Agricultural and Farming Jobs and AR Demolition.
The site is just a few minutes from junction 29, off the A617. Tickets are available in advance and further information can be found on www. ploughmen.co.uk or on Facebook and Twitter.