Drivers and tractors brave the mud and rain at Annual Rutland Ploughing Match
More than 60 tractors and their drivers braved mud and rain for this year’s Annual Rutland Ploughing Match.
The free event on Saturday saw a few tractors and drivers pull out, but organisers say the event still went well, considering the bad weather.
Rutland Ploughing match committee chairman Edward Griffin said the weather was ‘disappointing’ but he paid tribute to the drivers for turning out.
The day began at 9am and featured all forms of ploughing until the early afternoon.
There were vintage classes, modern classes and steam ploughing engines gave a spectacle.
There were also four teams of horse ploughs.
Edward continued: “We had competitors from Doncaster, Cirencester, Leicester, quite a big area.”
Among the winners were Champion Ploughman Brian Knight of Great Casterton; Reserve Champion Richard Ingram of Warwickshire and Jack Griffin of Carlby in the Under 21 section.
Held at Racecourse Road in Easton-on-the-Hill by kind permission of Velcourt Ltd, the event also included a Grasmere Farms food stand and a licensed
bar.
Two steam engines that pulled a plough across the field were supplied by Joe Norris of Uppingham and Brian Knight of Great
Casterton.
This week, the ploughing committee are still counting the money raised by the event, saying charities will be supported from any
surplus.
Previous years has seen donations made to the Air ambulance and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Fund.
Edward added he also wanted to thank retired committee members, former chairman Graham Mills, former vice chairman Gerald Morley and former secretary Kimberley
Griffin.
