Ploughing tips to be given at local training day
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The Scottish Ploughing Championships is organising a ploughing training day on Sunday, January 16, at Wester Olrig Farm, Castletown, by kind permission of A and A Gunn.
Anyone interested in taking part can just go along for the day – no booking is required and there is no need to bring a tractor or plough. The event is scheduled to kick off at 9.30am and will last until 3pm.
Demonstrations of various ploughing styles will be given by William Campbell (conventional world style); James Mackay (vintage mounted); Willie Mackay (classic conventional); Johnny Matheson, (vintage trailing); Gavin Robertson (two-furrow reversible, square): and William Ronaldson (multi-furrow reversible).
Scottish Ploughing Championships secretary Jane McDowall explained that the day was more about technique and participants would be completing half plots.
She said that there would be a lot of stopping and starting to allow advice and tips to be given by experts.
Helping out with the reversible techniques will be Andrew Mitchell, senior, James Tait and John Walker, while giving help with the conventional ploughing will be Willie Grieve, Alistair Brown and Gordon Rae.
Guidance will also be given on judging as well as the points system used by Scottish ploughing.
Ms McDowall said: "We are hoping for a good attendance, but that all depends on the weather."
Those intending to attend should keep an eye on the Scottish Ploughing Championships Facebook page for updates in case of changes due to Covid restrictions.
Payment of £5 will be taken on the day with all money going towards the Scottish Ploughing Junior Development Programme. A caterer will be on site
Caithness has been chosen to host the training day as the county is to be the venue of the 58th Scottish Ploughing Championships later in the year.
The competition, last held in Caithness in 2013, is scheduled to go ahead at Stanstill Farm, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs M Milne, on October 22-23.
This event will also see the hosting of the five nations ploughing challenge.
