Annual Ploughing Match - Horse, Vintage & Silver Plough

Annual Ploughing matches for North Canterbury Ploughing Match Assn and the Canterbury Clydesdale Club competing for trophies. The ploughing fields and car parking areas will be signposted from the entrance to 411 North Eyre Road, Swannanoa.

Competitive ploughing involves:
- Vintage ploughing – 2 or 3 furrow ploughs
- Horse team ploughing – teams of 2 to 6 horses
- Silver Plough – modern reversible and conventional
- Novice (learners) - horse, vintage and conventional ploughing

Meet the ploughmen (and ploughwomen) from throughout the South Island practicing the ancient skill of ploughing the land to expose the soil and weeds to the elements over the winter season in preparation for spring sowing of crops—before the days of spray and chemicals.

An opportunity for lifestyle farmers to learn alternative cultivation techniques. Observe the experienced competitors and farmers, and maybe consider learning traditional ploughing skills. A special welcome to potential new members. Thanks to our generous sponsors, prizes will be awarded, raffles drawn and refreshments served when ploughing is finished. Contact the Secretary, Mervyn Armstrong 027 6600 743 for entries at a nominal fee (including a very social lunchbreak in the barn).

Bring a thermos and picnic to enjoy the day. Please be aware that Horses and Tractors pulling ploughs and such implements need a lot of space to turn at the end of rows. Your safety is your own responsibility - not a good idea to walk across ploughed land.
For safety reasons we do not allow children to climb on any stationary tractors, traction engines, accommodation whares or horse floats.

(Sorry, no dogs permitted on this property, cameras welcome).

Mervyn Armstrong, Secretary. North Canterbury Ploughing Match Assn.
027 6600 743.