The misery of this morning's weather didn't deter a healthy turnout for the 75th East Kent Ploughing Match.

The worst of the rainfall had gone by the time it began, but spectators were later struck by a couple of intense, windy showers with diagonal rain.

East Kent Ploughing Match celebrates 75th year

One competitor, Clare Hayler, said: "We have been coming here every year for the last 10 years.

"The weather has been worse before.

"We've had torrential rain and winds so this is not too bad.

"If you wanted to just do this in sunny weather you wouldn't do it at all. You have to take the good with the bad."

Mrs Hayler, from the Isle of Sheppey, was here with her husband Peter to compete with their horses Sid and Sam.

Ray Dawkins, of Ashford, arrived with his pure-bred shire horses Arthur and Alfie.

He said: "This is quite a local event for us because we go all over the country doing different demonstrations and ploughing matches."

Mr Dawkins won in the best turnout section in the horse ploughs category.

Today's (Wednesday) was the 75th annual match since the Second World War and this year returned to its original 1945 venue, West Court Farm in Shepherdswell.

The competition involves the use of both horses and tractors, some from the wartime era and still in mint condition.

John McPherson, of Bekesbourne, was competing in the vintage tractor category with a petrol and paraffin-fuelled McCormick Deering.

He quipped: "This tractor is 1942 and I'm 1943.

He added; "It was shipped over for the war effort.

"Obviously she's been laid up and restored but she's still working very nicely."

Kate Page, also of Bekesbourne, had a 1943 tractor.

She said: "It was well looked after when it was on the farm. It belongs to Kelsey Farms (of Wickhambreaux, Canterbury).

"They had it from new but they were very good about keeping their vehicles maintained."

Mrs Page was not a competitor but was able to put in some practice during the event.

She said: "I'm not really competing, I'm here to have fun.

"My husband is marshalling otherwise he'd be driving the tractor."

The East Kent Ploughing Match had a host of other countryside attractions, stalls, side shows and activities.

The event is a highlight of the farming calender and as many as 4,000 people attend.

The ploughing contest ended at 11.30am today events continue until this afternoon.

These include a terrier race by the Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt.

The results for the 75th East Kent Ploughing Match are as follows:

Veg, fruit, grain, bale and fields:

Best 12 heads of cauliflower - T.E & S.W Bradley. Best 10kg of potatoes- Hatfield Farms. Most points in fruit classes - Ware Farms. Open veg section - P Ellis.

Best sample of malting barley - JG & GD White. Best sample of feed barley - JG & GD White. Best sample of milling wheat -JE Batchelor & Partners. Best sample of feed wheat - JE Batchelor & Partners. Highest protein wheat - JE Batchelor & Partners. Best sample of oats - JG & GD White. Best sample of oil seed rape - JG & GD White. Most Points in the grain tent - JG & GD White. Best field of combining peas- EH Holdstock and Sons. Best field of winter wheat - Lt Mongeham Ltd.

Best field of oil seed rape - JC Plommer. Best field of spring barley - Lt Mongeham Ltd. Best field of winter barley - JC Plommer. Best grass silage - W Hickson.

Ploughing Classes‍:

Champion ploughman - R Chambers. Reserve champion ploughman - S Batchelor. 2nd reserve champion - W Collard. Best ploughman under 21 years old - J Starr.

Best work by an ex-Hadlow student - A Preisig. First prize winner of the trailer ploughs - J R Stevens. First prize winner of run round ploughs - R Baseby. First prize winner 2/3 furrows - R Victor. First winner four furrow rev ploughs - S Batchelor. First Prize Winner five furrows rev plough - A Plommer. First prize winner six-plus furrows rev plough - R Chambers. Best work with a lemken plough - R Chambers. Best work with a Massey Ferguson tractor - R Chambers. Vintage champion ploughman - I Hogben. Reserve champion ploughman - C Cullen. Vintage mounted class 7 winner - C Cullen. Vintage Mounted Class 6 Winner - I Hogben. Best work by a grey/gold Ferguson tractor with plough - S Day. Best lady ploughman - R Victor. Best vintage novice - M Hutchings. Straighest furrow by run round plough - I Hogben. Winner of 2/3 furrow run round plough - J Vowell. Best work with classic tractor and plough - R Baseby. Best turned out vintage/classic - D Newman.

Stockman Classes.:

Dairy stockman - Thomas Castle. Sheep stockman - Allan Jull. Beef stockman - Ruth Perry. Stockman of the Year - Thomas Castle.

Horse ploughing classes:

Horse ploughs - best turnout - Ray Dawkin. Horse ploughs - Best working pair - Peter Hayler. Horse ploughing class- Ian Williams.

Other awards:

Most points in show - JG & GD White. Best stand in showground - Kreston Reeves.

Long service awards: David Edmond Catt from Botting Farm for 40 year's service.

Further details and pictures will also be in the next editions of the Dover Mercury and East Kent Mercury.

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