A record turnout at plough day
Last updated 05:41, Friday, 26 September 2008
A RECORD number of spectators turned out for the annual Walton Ploughing Match on Sunday.
It was hosted by farmer Alan Irving at Toppin Castle, near Brampton. Sixty ploughmen spent the day demonstrating their skills to more than 350 people.
There was a horse team and the oldest tractor taking part was a 1939 Fordson. Each competitor had to plough a 60mx40m strip of land, which took around four hours. The overall champion was Trevor Johnston from Bothel, who ploughs for the English team.
Match chairman Harry Cain said: “It was not a flat field, there was a lot of undulation. The good ploughmen made a fantastic job of it.
“A woman of 62 came for the first time. She said it was lovely to see something working on the land. All the tractor men do it for the love of it.”
