The British National Ploughing Championships and Country Festival will return to Somerset this year, for only the seventh time in the event’s 72-year history. This year’s championships will be held on land at Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton, from 14-15 October.
The 250-acre site will feature 300 ploughing plots, where ploughmen and women from throughout the country will be striving for perfection, using heavy horses, as well as modern and vintage tractors. There will be 15 classes and six ‘Plough-Off’ finals, with the ultimate aim of being crowned British Champion.
Credit: The Society of Ploughmen
Visitors will not only be able to appreciate the equine giants and ploughing skills on show, but will also be able to browse the trade stand, shopping and craft area, watch demonstrations of the most up-to-date machinery available on the market today, and admire vintage tractors and implements on display. There will also be hedgelaying competitions and tractor and trailer rides.
“We have some exceptional support in the south-west of the country and we are delighted that the Coles family have invited us back to Somerset for the third time in recent years,” said Sue Frith, Chief Executive of the Society of Ploughmen, who are organising the event. “In 2017 we held one of our best-ever championships on their land and we’re looking forward to a repeat, if not better this year.”
For more information, visit www.ploughmen.co.uk
Lead image by Paul Gregory
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