By Press Release
John Stallard – An Island ploughman
Ploughing is a process, a means by which the ground is turned to bring the nutrient-rich soil to the surface, whilst burying the plant matter below to break down. It is the initial process for growing some of the produce we rely on to feed the nation. But, for some of us, it is also a sport where skill, precision and overall aesthetics is judged.
My introduction to ploughing did not come from working the land my family owned, Upper Hyde Farm, where we grew vegetables, potatoes and corn. It was not until 1978, when I was 20, that Ern Sprack, the Open Championship winner from 1936, persuaded me to enter the Isle of Wight Ploughing Match which, that year, was being held at Big Budbridge Farm.
After moderate success that year, having only ploughed once before, I was privileged to be able to borrow the TS86 competition plough, owned by the association. It was loaned to the championship winner to use in the national championships. Some competitors who were eligible to use the plough declined, choosing to use their own plough; for others it meant a chance to compete equally at national level. In 1980 I purchased a Ransomes Bonning competition plough to use with my Massey 165, and I was lucky enough to win the IW County Ploughing Match Open Championship for the first time.
Over the years I have competed all over the country, from Devon, Kent and Hereford to as far north as Morpeth in Northumberland, with reasonable success. I am also a judge and regularly judge the crops competitions, in which IW farmers enter cereal to be assessed for appearance, evenness, weed content, any signs of infection and overall quality.
Looking to the future of the ploughing match and farming in general, I am realistic but cautiously optimistic. For the match, a real difficulty is attracting new entrants into the competition. Many young people these days want to use the big tractors and ploughs which require far larger plots, making it increasingly challenging to find fields big enough to cater for their needs. In addition, farming technology is moving forward, and many crops are grown without needing the land to be ploughed, which restricts the amount of land available for practising purposes. But I am positive about the number of young farmers entering agricultural professions, many with an emphasis on careers with livestock. However, for ploughing to continue as a hobby we need to build on the interest of the public, who are increasingly focussed on how food is grown and may wish to participate with the right support and encouragement.
What has kept me interested in ploughing as a hobby for all these years is the lifetime of friendships I have built up with like-minded individuals and I suppose it is also a way for me to embrace my competitive streak.
Looking to my own plans, with 11 championships under my belt, the last one in 2021, I fully intend to continue, I will be competing this year and hope to do well.
The Isle of Wight Ploughing Match will be held next Saturday (September 17) at Haseley Manor in Arreton, starting at 9am.