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The Calder Family (top) demonstrated with cutting of chaff with their steam powered equipment (lower).
Erin Cassie of Erewhon with her four horse team. Erewhon horses also offered free wagon rides for the public.
Front: Fred Bull pipes the competitors out to the plots. Behind him L and R: Warwick & Lesley Seaton who’s family property hosted the event. Middle Bruce Redmond president NZPA . Warwick was also in charge of grounds. Behind is the same tractor and plough driven by Jim Brooker with which he won the first NZ final in 1967 .
Friday 28th April 2017
Results of the New Zealand Ploughing Championships held at Kirwee on Saturday and Sunday, April 22nd and 23rd. • Farmland Fuel Reversible: o/all 1: Bob Mehrtens (Timaru) 2: Ashley Seaton (Kirwee) 3: Malcolm Taylor (Paturu) • Gulf Oil Silver Plough: o/all 1: Ian Woolley (Blenheim) 2: Scott McKenzie (Clinton) 3: Mark Dillon (Riversdale) Winners of the Farmlands Fuel and Gulf Oil Silver Plough; Bob Mehrtens and Ian Woolley will represent New Zealand at the World Ploughing Contest in Germany - 2018. • Rural News Horse Plough: 1: Sean Leslie & Kay Walker (Middlemarch) 2: John Chynoweth & Sharon Chambers (Oxford) 3: Erin Cassie (Erewhon Station) • New Zealand Vintage Ploughing Championship: 1: Alistair Rutherford (Riversdale) 2: Gordon Carter (Rakaia) 3: Murray Grainger (Mosgiel) • Special Prizes: • Vern Bishell Trophy for the best presented horse team, includes horses, equipment and contestants. Winner: John Chynoweth & Sharon Chambers • Wiganwood Trophy donated by John Thornton. Best presented rig at this year’s Championship Winner: Maurice Miller (Ashburton) • Fairhall Trophy - Awarded to the highest placed competitor not placed previously in the top 5 up to and including this NZ Championship Winner: Simon Reed (Kirwee). • W G Miller Trophy Awarded to the highest placed competitor 35 years of age and under. Winner: Ashley Seaton (Kirwee).
Fine weather and the much commented on outstanding soil conditions, at both the Seaton and Cridge properties where competition and practise was held respectively meant the results were purely indicative of the plough-person’s skill. From all the accounts in, it was clearly a wonderful weekend providing much fun and entertainment, as well as serious competition. 38 competitors tested their ability in the New Zealand Ploughing Championships at the Seaton’s Highfield Road, Courtenay property - fitting as this was the site of the first ploughing match held 150 years ago. Organisers can be well pleased with their efforts and had made a wonderful job of setting up the grounds and providing a vast
Lesley Seaton, whose family property was host to the event, Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton and flag bearer at the official opening - Bruce Redmond Pres. NZ Ploughing Assn.
Ashley Seaton (left) winner of the District Cup with Jim Brooker Patron of Courtenay- Paparua Association and also the first competitor to represent NZ at a World Match. They stand alongside the cake commemorating CourtenayPaparua’s 150 years.
Jeff Cridge President of the Courtenay-Paparua Ploughing Association. array of entertainment for all those who visited. From the sawdust pit for the youngsters and the Arion animal farm, to MC and DJ Singhstar and Pedalmania, there was no shortage of entertainment. The local area was well represented in the ploughing competitions with three members of the host association - CourtenayPaparua Ploughing Association competing. Association Treasurer Ashley Seaton was placed second in the Reversible and also won the W.G Millar Trophy for the highest points awarded to someone under 35 years of age, as well as the
Challenge Cup for most District points. Simon Reed had success at his first New Zealand final winning the Fairhall trophy - awarded to the highest placed competitor not placed previously in the top five up to, and including, this New Zealand championship. “The committee were very pleased with the weekend and it proved to be a successful event for the whole community, with many benefitting in some way,” said Helena Cridge for the organisers. “We thank all those who attended and supported the event especially our sponsors who helped make it such a success.”