Andrew ends long wait to regain overall Latheron ploughing title
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Andrew Sinclair was the overall winner of Latheron Parish Ploughing Association’s 37th annual ploughing match – more than three decades after he last achieved the feat.
Andrew, who last took the overall honours in 1987, was among 24 competitors in Sunday's event held at Reiss Lodge, near Wick, by permission of Alex Gunn. Conditions were described as good.
Ploughing judges were Donald Mackay, Rosskeen, Invergordon; John Fraser, Glaick, Ardross; Alex Campbell, Clay of Allan; and David Harcus, Lochslin Farm Cottages, Fearn. Tractors were judged by Marcus Munro, Munro Machinery, Wick.
Class one – 12" and over: 1 Stevie Blackwood, Thurso (Alister Macleod Memorial Cup for best in 12” class); 2 William Campbell, Gersa; 3 John Gunn, Killimster.
Best start and finish: S Blackwood. Straightest: W Campbell.
Class two – Classic: 1 Andrew Sinclair, Toftcarl (Inverarnie Cup, won outright by John Polson and re-presented in 2022 for best in the classic class); 2 Iain Sinclair, Thurso; 3 Willie Mackay, Biggins.
Best start: I Sinclair. Finish: W Mackay. Straightest: A Sinclair.
Class three – Two and three-furrow reversible: 1 (James Tait Cup for best in two and three-furrow reversible) Gavin Robertson, Barrock; 2 James Gunn, Whitefield; 3 Jamie Sinclair, Latheronwheel.
Best start, finish, straightest: G Robertson.
Class four – Reversibles – Multifurrow: 1 Scott Rosie, Hunster (Latheron Parish Association Shield); 2 William Ronaldson, Lower Gillock; 3 Campbell Morrison, West Greenland.
Best start and straightest: S Rosie. Finish: W Ronaldson.
Overall reversibles – G Hepburn Shield for best start overall in reversibles, David Gunn Memorial Trophy presented by his family for overall reversible champion (perpetual): G Robertson.
Robertson Inkstack Cup presented by Gavin Robertson for the reserve best in reversibles: S Rosie.
Class five – Vintage mounted: 1 Gerald Macleod, North Kessock (Baikie Butcher, Lybster Perpetual Cup for best in vintage mounted); 2 Alan Campbell, Gersa; 3 Don Macleod, Lyth.
Start: A Campbell. Straightest: G Macleod. Finish: D Macleod.
Class six – Vintage trailing: 1 Michael Mackay, West Greenland (Mackay Cup presented by Michael Mackay for best in vintage trailing); 2 John Mathieson, North Kessock; 3 George Williamson, Dixonfield.
Start, finish, straightest: M Mackay.
Class seven – Juniors: 1 Scott Rosie, Hunster (Latheron Parish Association Shield for junior 21 and under).
Best start, finish and straightest: S Rosie.
G Robertson Shield for best start in juniors, J Tait Shield for best finish in juniors; Cup presented by Andrew Polson, Smerlie, for straightest furrow in juniors (to be won three times) and Ballykelly Shield presented by S Bain and V Swanson for straightest furrow in juniors: Scott Rosie.
Novice: 1 Jamie Sinclair, Latheronwheel (V A Streight Memorial Shield for winner of novices).
Overall trophies – K Manson Shield for best work done with Massey Ferguson tractor: S Rosie.
Upper Northfield Cup for best vintage tractor and plough: B Polson.
Strath Cup for best ploughed lot in vintage (confined to county); William Murray Memorial Trophy for best start on the field: M Mackay.
St Clair Hotel Cup for the overall finish on the field: W Mackay.
Tait and Robertson Cup presented by James Tait and Gavin Robertson for third overall: S Blackwood.
John Polson Memorial Trophy presented by his family for best start and finish combined on the field (perpetual); Prize for best-kept tractor (other than vintage); Latheron Ploughing Association Quaich for neatest ends on the field; John R Gunn, Gersa Cup for the reserve overall on the field: G Robertson.
John Polson Cup for overall straightest furrow on the field; Clachan Cup for parish champion; Perpetual cup presented by Gunns (Lybster) Ltd for champion of the field: A Sinclair.
Novelty prizes – Youngest ploughman: S Rosie. Oldest ploughman: G Macleod. Best-looking ploughman: D MacDonald.
