Ploughing a straight furrow for big Cruckton match
More than 1,000 people flocked to the Shropshire countryside to enjoy a traditional ploughing match which was celebrating its 80th anniversary.
Recent wet weather failed to dampen spirits at the Cruckton Ploughing Match, near Shrewsbury, as more than 90 entrants from as far away as Yorkshire battled it out to see who could plough the best furrows.
Cruckton and District Ploughing and Hedging Society said it was lucky to have chosen a venue with good drainage for this year's event after heavy rain left many fields waterlogged.
Society secretary Helen Davies said to mark the milestone it took place at Holly Bank & Oakfield Farm in Cruckton, where the very first match, sparked by a bet between two farmers, was held back in 1927.
She said: "It was one to remember. We had a good gate with about 1,000 people, and it was sunny so the weather was in our favour.
"There are different classes for horse-drawn ploughs and vintage and modern tractors. They do equal-sized patches of land.
"The judges are looking for straight furrows that are turned over in one smooth piece without breaks."
It was a family affair on the podium as brothers-in-law scooped the overall prize and the award for Shropshire's best ploughman.
John Hill, from Sheffield, was the overall champion, while Mike Holloway, who farms on the Powys border at Lower Gwarthlow near Montgomery, was Shropshire champion.
Mr Holloway has entered the match 40 times and estimates he has won the Shropshire prize about 15 times over the years.
He said: "My wife is a sister to John so you could say there's a bit of family competition."
