2005 British National Ploughing Championships head for the Fens
24/06/05

Following last year's highly successful event in Berkshire, the British National Ploughing Championships move this year to the Cambridgeshire Fens, where they will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October at East Fen Farm, Soham, courtesy of Mr and Mrs Eric Day.

The site is situated just to the east of the Soham bypass (the A142 trunk road) and is mid way between Ely and Newmarket. It is typical of much of the land in the area: very flat with sandy, loam soil.

The Society of Ploughmen, the Championships' organisers, are again expecting more than 200 local ploughing champions from all over the country to contest the 11 classes making up the event. Visitors will be able to see and compare modern match ploughing at its very best with examples of how it used to be done in the past, in the Vintage and Horse ploughing classes. And there will also be plenty of present day commercial farm machinery on display, both out on the demonstration plots and in the main static exhibition area. In addition, there will also be many of the attractions to be found at country fairs and agricultural shows: suppliers of agricultural, country clothing outfitters, outdoor pursuits promotions, environmental and conservation stands, to name a few.

On each of the two days all the competitors parade to their plots. Of the 11 classes in the Championships the two principal ones are the reversible and conventional classes, with the ultimate prize being membership of the England team at the 2006 World Ploughing Contest. So tough is the competition that only 15 ploughmen will make it through to the final plough off on the second day: nine in the conventional class and six in the reversible class. The two class champions will be the England team at the 2006 World Ploughing Contest.

For those wanting something altogether more peaceful away from the noise of tractors and modern farm machinery, there are always the heavy horses. A perennial family attraction, the sight of these majestic animals in their brilliantly decorated harness quietly working the land, is a reminder of a time when farming was a quieter and gentler occupation than today. On the first day of the Championships the horse ploughmen will be competing to produce the best general purpose ploughing, and the stylish traditional 'high cut' work on the second day.

Seen alongside today's' gleaming, hi-tec monsters vintage tractors and equipment - yesterday's 'cutting edge' technology, remember - look almost other-worldly. Yet interest in vintage tractors and agricultural machinery has never been greater, as witnessed by the large number of vintage rallies and ploughing matches taking place throughout the country each year. The recently introduced 'classic' ploughing class has done much to help boost this popularity in the UK and has successfully attracted new competitors the Championships. Visitors to Soham this year are assured of a feast of vintage ploughing.

Commenting on the build up to the Championships, Ken Chappell the Executive Director of the Society of Ploughmen said: "We've had two very successful Championships in the same area in 1980 and 1991 at Burwell, and this year's event is has already aroused a great deal of local interest. We've an excellent site and I'm looking forward to another first class event."

The British National Ploughing Championships are organised in association with Farmers Weekly, and enjoys the support of its principal sponsors: National Grid Transco, Total Butler, Goodyear and Bridgestone/Firestone.