PICTURES and VIDEO: Perfect day for a vintage ploughing match at Knockdee Farm in Caithness

Conditions could not have been better for the annual vintage tractor ploughing match held this year at Knockdee Farm at Stemster.

The sun was shining throughout most of the day and threatened showers came to little as the 20 competitors took to the field for the Caithness Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club (CVTMC) ploughing match on Saturday, October 12.

Judges Christopher Coghill from Knockdee and William Mackay from Biggins were both delighted with the turnout and the conditions for the event which began at 10.30am and finished before 3pm.

Andrew Mackay, chair of the CVTMC, hosted the event at his farm in West Greenland last year, which was marred by very stormy conditions.

“All the spring barley from the field has been taken in from the field and the conditions are much better than last year with no wind, rain or hailstones,” said Andrew.

“We’ve got a great turnout with 20 ploughs. Three or four didn’t turn up but you quite often get that. They’re all from Caithness bar Johnnie Mathieson from North Kessock. We’ve got juniors and novices along with more experienced guys who have been ploughing probably for the last 25 years.”

Andrew had come out the week before to mark out the field for the match and described the ground as “very good” on the day of the event. The field at Knockdee is on an incline and the chair was asked if there were any advantages for the position each competitor had.

“There’ll be a bit of natural drainage and I can see a bit of a hill where the drag ploughs are with rolling plots but it’s just the luck of the draw – they pick their numbers out of a hat in the morning.

“You want all the ploughing to look level and uniform and all the furrows to look the same and look straight with no stubble showing so you get a good seedbed.”

Michael Mackay from West Greenland farm, Andrew’s brother, was out on his 1929 International once again but was accompanied this time by his rescue dog Ola. “That’s the first time she’s out on the tractor and she sits good,” he said.

There were some minor issues with breakdowns during the event but the strengths of the local farming community came to the fore with help at hand. “There’s always somebody that will help them get going. The farmers around the county are like that and generally will help out.”

Results

Class 1 - Drag: 1 Michael Mackay and winner of The Streight Family, Upper Thrumster Trophy for Drag Champion; 2 Martin Munro, Halkirk; 3 John Matheson, North Kessock.

Doreen Barnie Trophy for Best Start, Finish and Straightest in Drag – M Mackay.

Class 2 – Vintage Mounted: 1 Alan Campbell, Gersa and winner of The Mackay Family, Buldoo Trophy for Mounted Champion and Bennachie Cup (April 1933) for Best in Mounted Class represented 2023 by Jane Fraser, Miller Avenue, Wick (to be rotated round the classes each year); 2 William Ronaldson, Lower Gillock; 3 Cameron Coghill, Knockdee.

Class 3 - Classic: 1 Andrew Sinclair, Toftcarl and winner of the CVTMC Trophy for winner of Classic Class; 2 Iain Sinclair, Thurso; 3 Robert Sutherland, Achunabust.

Overall results

G Shearer, Seater Trophy for Best Start on Field – M Mackay.

W Mackay AI, Oldhall Trophy for Best Finish on Field – M Mackay.

J Mackay, Thrumster Trophy for Straightest Furrow on Field – Don Macleod, Lyth.

Trophy presented by the late Billy Thomson, Watten for Junior Champion – C Coghill.

Shield presented by R and I Farquhar, Stanstill for Novice Champion – C Coghill.

Doreen Barnie Trophy for Best Work by Pre 1950 Tractor – M Mackay.

Netherby Feeds Trophy for Neatest Ins and Outs on Field – M Mackay.

The Gunn Family, Quoys of Reiss Trophy for Best Ploughed Lot by a Fordson Tractor – Graeme Mackay, Buldoo.

CVTMC Trophy for Outwith the County – J Matheson.

Reay Car Sales Trophy for Furthest Travelled – J Matheson.

The Mackay Family, West Greenland Trophy for Confined to County – M Mackay.

Robertson’s of Tain Trophy for Overall Champion – M Mackay.

Best Looking Ploughman – William Campbell, Gersa.

Christopher Coghill - host farmer, John Matheson, Michael Mackay, Karen Coghill - Christopher’s wife, Alan Campbell, Andrew Sinclair and Cameron Coghill.

There will be a CVTMC 20th anniversary dinner and dance in the Norseman Hotel, Wick on Saturday, November 30, with music by Addie Harper and Friends.

Tickets are £30 for adults and £15 for 13 years and under and are available from CVTMC secretary and treasurer Liz Hewitson by telephoning 07789 710920.

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