Crowds flock to Shropshire ploughing match
[gallery] About 1,000 people turned out to see farmers compete in one of the biggest ploughing matches in the county.
Cruckton & District Ploughing & Hedging Society held its 81st match in Ruyton XI Towns, near Shrewsbury.
The warm autumn weather attracted the crowds and the competitors, with 90 people taking part in 10 classes, from horse ploughing to vintage tractors and modern machines.
Club secretary Helen Davies said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere on the day was second to none.
"The BBC ran a feature on Irish ploughing and encouraged people to look at where there were matches in their area so I think that might have helped.
"We had about 1,000 people through the gates, which was great."
Competitors were each given a plot and started ploughing at 10am on Saturday.
They had until 2pm to work their section. They were then judged on the straightness of their lines, depth and how they turned over the furrow. The day also featured a sheep trial with 73 competitors as well as trade stands and food stalls.
Mrs Davies said the club was looking for a suitable location for next year. She said: "We need 50 acres for the ploughing and about 30 acres for the trade stands."
The Best Shropshire Ploughman was named as Mike Holloway, of Montgomery, using his Case tractor with kverneland plough whilst Clive Nixon, of Llandrindod Wells, was crowned the Champion Ploughman on his Davey Brown tractor with kverneland plough.
The Champion Horseman title was awarded to Brian Davies, from Oswestry, and Frank Cornes, of Bayston Hill, won the Rodenhurst Cup title.
