A day that began badly got progressively better as ploughmen from across Britain warmed to the conditions at this year’s Flintshire ploughing match.

The 2019 competition – the 111th time it’s been held – was the first since Flintshire Farmers Ploughing Society was selected to stage the 2021 All Wales ploughing match.

Hosted by John Parry and Geoffrey Brereton at Borras Hall, Wrexham , ploughmen arrived at the venue to find fields heavily drenched by overnight rain.

The soggy condition continued over breakfast but as competitors gathered around their tractors, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

“By the time the competition finished the fields looked very different,” said society chairman Arthur Jennings.

“A very strong breeze during the day helped dry out the land.”

Look: Flintshire Farmers' 2019 spring ploughing match
Henry Taylor of Clitheroe makes good headway
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Mr Jennings was among the day’s class winners in a field that included 83 ploughmen and women, some from as far afield as north England.

In the World-Style events there were customary wins for Whitchurch ploughman Nigel Vickers (Conventional) and Elfed Jones from Llanfihangel GM (Reversible).

The latter held off a challenge from Hugh Griffith, Rhydyclafdy , who is due to represent Wales at this August’s World Ploughing Match in the USA.

Similar Welsh representatives will be selected at the 2021 All Wales match, for which Flintshire Farmers has begun fundraising.

  • To sponsor the 2021 competition, contact Mr Jennings on 07527 066700.

Flintshire Farmers Ploughing Society's 2019 match results

  • World Style Conventional: 1) Nigel Vickers.
  • World Style Reversible: 1) Elfed Jones; 2) Hugh Griffith; 3) Dylan Hughes.
  • Classic: 1) Roy Stokes; 2) Mike Holloway; 3) David Hankey; 4) Will Thomas.
  • Vintage Hydraulic: 1) Arthur Jennings; 2) Stuart Lamb; 3) Richard Ingram; 4) Cliff Hammer.
  • Vintage Trailer: 1) Derek Lloyd; 2) John Milnes; 3) Andrew Buckley; 4) Frank Millington.
  • Beginners: 1) Harry Jones; 2) Harri Gwyn; 3) Sam Gittins; 4) Richard Lewis.
  • Novice: 1) Huw Hulme; 2) Jac Wyn Davies; 3) Lloyd Edwards; 4) DM Jones.
  • David Brown: 1) Edwyn Hughes; 2) WJ Banks.
  • Ford-Fordson: 1) Harry Williams; 2) Andy Hughes; 3) Ross Watson; 4) Charles James.
  • Ferguson TE20: 1) Keith Atkinson; 2) Graham Jones; 3) G Monaghan; 4) Gwynfor Parry.
  • International: 1) Mike Speed; 2) Jason Linsey; 3) Les Parker; 4) Sam Latham.