Ploughing a furrow for charity as farmers take part in competition

The Tern Valley Vintage Ploughing club held it's spring match recently, one of only a handful that have taken place during the pandemic.

It attracted 70 competitors not only from Shropshire and neighbouring Cheshire and Staffordshire but from as far afield as Oxford, Leicester and Anglesey.

One of the organisers, Mr Andrew Millington, said as well as providing a great day out for the agricultural community the day raised £1,000 for the charity nominated by the Jean and Andrew Buckley who hosted the event on their farm at Darliston.

"The money was donated to the Dougie Mac hospice in Staffordshire," he said.

Mr Millington thanked the landowners and also Shropshire Council which he said had been extremely helpful in advising the club on Covid regulations.

"We didn't hold our popular, road run this year so we were keen to put on a spring ploughing match," he said.

"People were so please to be able to get together and socialise in safety. Farming can be a solitary job and in lockdown this been even more the case."

The event had seven different classes for vintage tractors.

One of the main ones, the trailed category, was won by the host, Andrew Buckley.

The UK's national ploughing champion, Richard Ingram from Warwickshire won the open mounted class while a former national champion, Roy Stokes from Tong, won the classic class.

Other winners were: Fergie class, Chris Huck from Cirencester; Novice, John Hubble, Stafford; Open reversible, Andy Millington, Cheswardine; Novice vintage, Elwyn Lloyd, Wales.

Mr Millington said the club would welcome tractor enthusiasts.

"We hold regular practice days when we set up ploughs and give help and advice. Our last practice day raised £300 which is going to Severn Hospice as the landowner's mum spent time at the hospice before she passed away."