Keeping the sport of ploughing and the standard of workmanship alive is now a focus for members of the Rakaia Ploughing Match Association following their successful centennial event last weekend.
It saw record numbers of 31 competitors take part on Saturday and now president Simon Reed is keen to keep up the momentum.
‘‘This was achievable, to have a match this size, how do we continue to hold matches this size,’’ he said.
‘‘And how do we encourage younger competitors to start coming and keep the sport and the standard of workmanship alive?’’
Reed said it was talked about during speeches about how ploughing was viewed as a sport now but was actually a common day-to-day practice used in farming and demonstrated the standard of workmanship one could do.
Reed said back in the 1920s it was common practice for farm owners and farm workers to turn out in force to matches.
‘‘It was all farm class,’’ he said.
‘‘If you were lucky enough to have a tractor, you had a tractor, otherwise you were ploughing with horses,’’ he said.
People would travel from as far away as Christchurch to Rakaia and borrow a tractor off someone they knew to compete and Rakaia School would also closed for the day, Reed said.
At the centennial event, competitors entered across six classes at the Stewart property on the corner of Rakaia Barrhill Methven Rd and McKays Rd.
The classes were silver plough, vintage qualifying, contemporary, vintage open, farm class and horses.
There were about 85 people at the prizegiving and 60 people at the evening dinner celebrations; both at the Rakaia Rugby Club.
‘‘It would be known as one of New Zealand’s biggest club matches held for some time,’’ he said.
Reed, a farmer, was entered in the farm class competing against seasoned ploughman David Boag.
He entered to give Boag some competition but went on to win the class.
‘‘I was determined to have a match where every class was ploughing,’’ Reed said.
‘‘When Davey Boag was happy to plough in the farm class we had to put a competitor against him.
‘‘One of the biggest thing with the farm class is that we are always looking at ways to make the ploughing more interesting for newcomers.
‘‘And perhaps we have to get back to its roots, where it started, which was farm ploughing.’’
Reed was driving a John Deere 8410 tractor with a seven furrow reversible Kverneland.
He also won the special prize best ploughman with five or more furrows
‘‘It was fantastic. Couldn’t have got a better day, better crowd, better everything to be honest.’’
‘‘It was a great night had where a lot of history – old and new history – both came up.
‘‘We were very well support by the Rakaia Rugby Club and Rakaia Netball Club to host us, and feed and water people.
‘‘And I think probably the weather turned it on and it was definitely well supported by the public and our sponsors were extremely generous which is what makes the difference for a club of our size and nature to be able to reward the competitors.’’
The club has 20 members and Reed said the turnout from the weekend showed competitors were out there and willing to compete.
The Rakaia Ploughing Match Association was established in 1923.
But in the late 1920s there was a couple of years with no matches recorded – but no reason.
Reed said older club members suspect it was due to the Great Depression which started in the late 1920s.
‘‘So it probably was the 100th match although it was 102 years.’’
‘‘It’s a very active sport and we would love to see anybody that want to have a go.
‘‘And would certainly encourage those in the industry that do it as a day-to-day operation to come come along and compete, and show us how good they are.’
‘‘The basis of this originally was it was your livelihood; the better you ploughed the paddock the more income you received as a benefit.’’
Results: The silver plough won by Warrick Seaton, second Matt Ridge and third Tryphena Carter. Vintage qualifying won by Colin Boon, second Dave Allan and third David Hight.
Contemporary won by Keith Marychurch, second Colin Maw and third Tim Boag. Vintage open won by Danie Oosthuizen, second Ken Readman, third Geoff Richards.
Farm class won by Simon Reed and second David Boag. Horses won by John Booth.
Special prizes included the best district ploughman Tryphena Carter and runner up Colin Maw and the Plucks Engineering Challenge Trophy which went to David Boag.
