SCHHA Ploughing Championships - 1999

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Jo Hewitt's pair of Ardennes Horses

All the main breeds of British heavy horses were to be seen in action. Robert Sampson's Percherons were not the only representatives of their breed: there were many Shires, some Clydesdales and Suffolks and Jo Hewitt brought her striking pair of Ardennes - short and stocky they may be, but these are really powerful horses and tireless workers.

Bob Dash is a regular competitor in these Championships and took part in the High Cut competition, which requires the edge of the furrow to stand up cleanly and can be difficult in certain conditions. He said that although the soil seemed hard on the surface, providing you went in deep enough there was no problem. It was just typical Hampshire soil, mainly clay but fairly stony and heavier where the ground sloped down towards the road. Apparently conditions varied considerably across the field which caused the ploughman to stop and make frequent adjustments.

Champion Ploughman was Jim Reynolds, with his horses Tudor and Cariad, who must have thought his journey from Wales well worth the trip! He was closely followed by Arthur Clouting with Captain and Moonlight who had travelled almost as far from Norfolk. Jim was the winner of the High Cut competition and received the award for 'Best Crown' (the first 3 furrows each side of the opening to the plough). Arthur won the Short Turn Furrow class (i.e. with a Mouldboard measuring less than 43" long) and was awarded the prize for 'Best Finisher'. The Finish, as the name suggests, is the last part of the area to be ploughed, consisting of three rounds and the sole furrow.

The show ring was located at the top of the field, giving us all glorious views of the ploughing contestants and the Hampshire hills in the background. The classes were generally well contested and the horses looked at their best in the late autumn sunshine.

Kerri Mack - winner of the 'Young Handler' Competition

Judge Tom Brewster from Scotland was full of praise for the efforts of the contestants in the Young Handler class, which was won by 15 year old Kerri Mack from Bedfordshire. Tom commented that Kerri's 9-year-old Shire, Sherbourne Lady Dainty, was 'spotless' and the horse had been beautifully groomed and plaited by Kerri, as well as being shown to good effect. He said that the overall standard was high with just a couple of the youngsters giving signs of inexperience in actually showing their horses. Second place went to Krissie Ingleby and the mare Swanmore Amber.

Spoils were evenly spread throughout the show classes but lest anyone be surprised about the Show Champion of the previous year having been a foal, she proved herself equally superior to her rivals in 1999. Now a well-grown filly, Sladbrook Stewardess looks to be something special and a worthy Champion. Let's hope she will return this year and perhaps complete a hat trick of titles?

Show Champion - Sladbrook Stewardess

Reserve Champion was the winner of the Best Gelding class, Cyril Knowles' marvellous Shire gelding, Mac, who is just as often seen in the trade turnout classes - frequently winning the singles (which he did on this occasion) or in the pairs class with Sam. He and Sam were driven in 'tandem by Alan Tillier and really caught the eye. The judge thought so too as they were the worthy winners of an excellent class. Dave Mouland's pair, Thomas and Prince, looking resplendent in their ex-Whitbread harness, finished second. Quite apart from the superb turnout of Cyril Knowles' vehicle and team, Mac is a horse with tremendous presence who seems to love showing himself to good advantage, whether in harness or in hand. His 'sparkle' must be an extra and vital ingredient in the winning formula. Cyril Knowles had another success in the show ring with Merlin who was adjudged Best Two Year Old.

Graham Evans's winning turnout - Willingham Louise pulling a farm waggon

There was another interesting class for the Single Farm Turnout, which was won by Graham Evans's smart Percheron mare, Willingham Louise, pulling a most attractive farm waggon, from Dave Peters and his Shire, Brigadier, pulling a tip-cart. Willingham Louise had earlier won the 'Any Breed' class (other than Shire or Clydesdale).

Brian and Norah Willis may have moved to Devon but they are still staunch supporters of the Association's events - not only that, but their horses all still bear the prefix Medstead, reflecting their former home. Theirs was another lengthy but rewarding journey since they won the Foal Class with Medstead Saskia (for once Cyril Knowles had to settle for second place with his Brenda's Baby) and came second with Medstead Corylos Avelana in the Yearling Class to the invincible Sladbrook Stewardess. Showing Medstead Royale, Brian then went on to win a very competitive class for Horse in Cart Harness - a class in which the condition of the horse counts for 50% of the marks and the other 50% for the harness.

Some of the contestants in the Ploughing Matches awaiting their awards

The Best Mare was won by Nigel Batt's Ammerfield Midnight Lady, a three-year-old Shire, from the Percheron, Willingham Louise, in second place. The show classes concluded and the Championship decided, it was time for the grand parade of all the horses that had competed in the show classes and the turnouts. Soon the ring was a mass of horses, handlers, horse-drawn vehicles and jangling harness. It was well worth waiting for, not to mention the subsequent parade of all the horses that had competed in the ploughing match and who somehow contrived to fit into the allocated space. By this time the sun was casting long shadows over all the figures in the arena and a chilly breeze was gently stirring the manes of the horses. They all stood patiently though, waiting, often as not unattended, while their owners discussed the day with fellow competitors and received their awards. Gradually the 'party' drew to a close for yet another year … … most definitely a day to remember.

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