The sixth revived Highlands of Fife ploughing match was the best ever attended, with 83 entries for the competition, held at Bannafield Farm,St Andrews, by permission of Mr G Sprott.
Ploughmen arrived from as far afield as the Isle of Bute, Berwick and Peterhead.
Two pairs of horses added to the occasion, as did the rare sight of a Muir Hill 121 tractor taking part with a four-furrow Dowsdwell.
Ross Kinnaird of Kinross was best horse ploughman.
John Bathgate of Dunbar was the 12” mounted winner.
Classic reversible champion Fraser Millar of Clackmannan used a two-furrow Ransome which had ploughed the same field 50 years ago in the hands of Bob Steven, who showed Fraser a photograph of the plough in action.
Dave Carnegie of Laurencekirk took the reversible butts award.
The 12” hydraulic class trophy went to Ian Williams, Peterhead.
The reversible winner was Robert Black of Largoward, while his relative Liam Black was the junior winner.
Raymond Smart of Leven took the trailing title.
Results were as follow.
Overall champion: Stuart Forsyth, Berwick-on-Tweed; reserve Ian Williams, Peterhead.
Specials
Ford Prize: Stuart Forsyth. Best feering in the field: Ron Phillips, Pitlessie. John Louden Memorial Trophy for best feering and finish combined (in 12” class): Charlie Manson, Philipston.
Horse class
Feering: Benny Duncan, Balmalcom. Ploughing: Ross Kinnaird, Kinross. Finish: Ross Kinnaird. Straightest: Ross Kinnaird. Best turned-out pair: Benny Duncan.
Trailing
Throw-outs: Raymond Smart, Leven. Feering: 1 Morris Blacklaws, Carnoustie; 2 Raymond Smart; 3 Rab Birrell, Thornton. Ploughing: 1 Raymond Smart; 2 Morris Blacklaws, Carnoustie; 3 Rab Birrell. Finish: 1 Morris Blacklaws; 2 Raymond Smart; 3 Rab Birrell. Straightest rig: Raymond Smart. Ins and outs: Rab Birrell.
10” mounted. Throw-outs: Stuart Forsyth. Feering: 1 Ron Phillips; 2 Jock Sivewright, Meigle; 3 Dave Veitch, Scotlandwell. Ploughing: 1 Stuart Forsyth; 2 Jock Sivewright; 3 Ron Phillips. Finish: 1 Stuart Forsyth; 2 Jock Sivewright; 3 Ron Phillips. Straightest rig: Stuart Forsyth. Ins and outs: Stuart Forsyth.
12” mounted. Throw-outs: John Winter, Garvald. Feering: 1 Charlie Manson; 2 John Bathgate, Dunbar; 3 John Adamson, Brechin. Ploughing: 1 John Bathgate; 2 Charlie Manson; 3 James Mcindoe, Uphall. Finish: 1 James Mcindoe; 2 Charlie Manson; 3 John Bathgate. Straightest rig: James Mcindoe. Ins and outs: John Bathgate, Dunbar.
12” hydraulics. Throw-out: Ian Williams. Feering: 1 Ian Williams; 2 Willie Grieve, Luncarty; 3 John Tait, Gullane. Ploughing: 1 Ian Williams; 2 John Tait; 3 Willie Grieve. Finish: 1 Willie Grieve; 2 John Tait; 3 Ian Williams. Straightest rig: Ian Williams. Ins and outs: Alistair Brown, Darvel.
Reversible
Throw-outs: Duncan Falconer, Boarhills. Feering: 1 Archie Finlay, Leven; 2 Robert Black, Largoward; 3 Fraser Millar, Clackmanan. Ploughing: 1 Robert Black; 2 Fraser Millar; 3 Archie Finlay. Finish: 1 Jim Ballie, Forfar; 2 John Walker, Airth; 3 Robert Black. Straightest rig: Robert Black. Ins and outs: Archie Finlay. Best work with a two-furrow classic reversible plough: Fraser Millar.
Reversible butts. Throw-outs: Andy Greenhill, Perth. Feering: 1 Dave Carnegie, Laurencekirk; 2 Andy Greenhill; 3 Scott Alexander, Fettercairn. Ploughing: 1 Scott Alexander; 2 Dave Carnegie; 3 Andy Greenhill. Finish: 1 Dave Carnegie; 2 Andy Greenhill; 3 Scott Alexander. Straightest rig: Dave Carnegie. Ins and outs: Andy Greenhill.
Juniors
Throw-outs: Stuart Grieg, Tealing. Feering: 1 Stuart Grieg; 2 Douglas Greig, Tealing; 3 Liam Black, Largoward. Ploughing: 1 Liam Black; 2 Douglas Grieg; 3 Stuart Grieg. Finish: 1 Liam Black; 2 Douglas Grieg; 3 Stuart Grieg. Straightest rig: Liam Black. Ins and outs: Douglas Greig.
Demonstrators
1 Tommy Malcolm, Sellars; 2 Bob Grieg, Tm Simpson; 3 Alex Rearie, Netherton Tractors.
Meanwhile, the annual DMR Machinery Club ploughing match was at Newmill Farm, Cupar, by permission of Bill Wardlaw.
Classes were for David Brown, International and Case tractors and ploughs, in keeping with the club’s aims.
The most unusual entry was by David Symington of Strathkinness, who brought an American-spec Case DC4 tractor coupled to a two-furrow Case plough mounted with the Case Eagle Hitch.
Winning this class was Keith Lyall using another DC4 and a Ransome trailing plough.
In the International class it was Rab Birrell of Thornton who took the award, using an international W4 tractor in front of a Cockshutt trailing plough.
Angus Smart of Buckhaven took the prize for the best work with an International tractor and plough combination using a 434 and B series plough.
Winning the equivalent David Brown trophy was G Findlay using an 880 Implematic in front of a DB-mounted plough.
Willie Grieve from St Andrews took the best ploughing section with a two-furrow mounted plough behind his Fordson Dexta.
Results
Case
Feering: 1 K Lyle, Burrelton; 2 G Souter, Kirriemuir; 3 G Melville, Limerigg. Ploughing: 1 K Lyle; 2 G Souter; 3 G Melville. Finish: 1 K Lyle; 2 G Souter; 3 D Symington.
DB
Feering: 1 G Findlay, Forfar; 2 J Fleming, Kirriemuir; 3 W Grieve, St Andrews. Ploughing: 1 W Grieve; 2 J Fleming; 3 J Roger, St Andrews. Finish: 1 W Grieve; 2 T Campbell, Aberfeldy; 3 J Fleming.
DB/DB combination: G Findlay.
IH
Feering: 1 R Birrell, Thornton; 2 J McIndoe jun, Uphall; 3 R Smart, Leven. Ploughing: 1 R Birrell; 2 J McIndoe jun; 3 R Smart. Finish: 1 J McIndoe jun; 2 R Birrell; 3 J Don, Wormit.
IH/IH Combination: A Smart.