Rutland Ploughing Match digs back to its 19th century roots

Monday, 7 November 2022 09:33

The Rutland Ploughing Match saw demonstrations from vintage right through to modern technology. (Credit:Facebook)

The Rutland Ploughing Match, which pits 85 competitors and their various methods of ploughing against the autumn fields of Rutland, saw hundreds brave the weather on Saturday to come and watch. Organisers say that as early as the 19th Century, the match was just as popular with the locals as it is now.

Organisers of the Rutland Ploughing Match say that they’ve found records of the event dating back well into the 19^th century and that it’s as popular now as it was then.

Hundreds of spectators turned out amidst the rain and wind on Saturday to see 85 competitors across 10 classes - from horse and steam drawn to hand ploughing and also modern day ploughing using the latest machinery. The event was held in the fields between Great Casterton and Pickworth.

Chairman Edward Griffin says it is important to keep the ploughing tradition alive:

“You look back at some of the write ups in the Rutland Mercury – it’s incredible, the support that it had then. It would have been as big an event then as it was today but, obviously, would have looked very different!”

More information about the day, with photos, can be found on Facebook here: The Rutland Ploughing Match | Facebook

To hear the interview with Chairman Edward Griffin, click on the audio icon.