A vintage farm machinery enthusiast from Alyth is preparing to brave the elements and plough for 24 hours on a 76-year-old tractor with no cab.
Dougie McNicoll is even thinking of wearing period clothing during his marathon on March 7-8 as a tribute to his father Doug, and in aid of Parkinson’s Scotland.
However it’s not his own comfort he’s worried about, but the wear and tear on his beloved 1944 Fordson N tractor and the Massey Harris trailing plough which dates from the 1930s.
“My father bought the tractor. He made the mudguards and wheels himself, and we worked on it together, so it’s special to me,” said Dougie.
“He died last year from Parkinson’s, so we wanted to raise awareness of the illness and raise money in a way that reflects his passion for ploughing matches and vintage machinery.
“The land we’re using is nice and flat – I wouldn’t put the tractor through anything stony or hilly.”
Gordon Nicholson from Welton Farm at Blairgowrie is making 100 acres available for the event which will also include displays and demonstrations by local machinery dealers as well as static displays of vintage equipment and a stand of working equipment from the Ford Country Club.
World class ploughmen Andrew Mitchell and Dave Carnegie will be ploughing plots and giving advice, and representatives from the Scottish Ploughing Championships will also be on hand to explain different styles and techniques.
At least two pairs of Clydesdales are expected and – for a donation – spectators can try their hand at horse ploughing.
Meanwhile, Dougie will be focused on what he thinks is a first vintage ploughing marathon event in Scotland.
“There have certainly been 24-hour ploughing marathons in the past, but I don’t think there have been any in Scotland where they’ve used vintage equipment,” he said.
“ordinary ploughing matches often last six or seven hours, and once you get started the adrenalin kicks in. If I plough 10-15 acres in 24 hours I’ll be happy – and I won’t be trying to break records!”
Children are being encouraged to attend the event and take part in a game to win a BMX bike, and the weekend will end with a charity auction.
Spectators will be asked to make a donation and an event catalogue is being produced. Dougie said the original sponsorship aim was £100, but that target has already been broken.
“Even before we put the plough in the ground we’re way past that, so we’re just hoping to raise as much as possible.”
Anyone interested in donating can do so at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charity-ploughing-marathon for Parkinsons Scotland.
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
