Ploughmen on form at annual Kintyre competition

The success of the day was due, in no small part, to the hard work of society president Iain McKendrick and his team of directors, ably assisted by Drew McKendrick, Fraser MacPhail and Michael Mayberry, in the days leading up to the competition.

A fantastic 33 entries were received, with 29 competitors taking part on the day. 

Kintyre’s James McCallum and Andrew Ronald Jnr were joined by Jock Aitchison from Errol and Alistair Sangster from Blackford to judge the competition.

In a very keenly contested competition, Robert McKechnie from Wishaw was the overall winner on the day, with local man Fraser MacPhail a close runner up.

An agricultural society spokesperson said: “We would like to thank our main sponsors, MPL Household; Alasdair Day from R&B Distillers/Machrihanish Distillery for hosting the ploughing match and for providing some of the company’s excellent products for the winners; the judges for doing a great job in getting through the large entry to judge the competition; all competitors, many of whom had travelled a long way to take part; all sponsors and those who donated prize money; and Carole Armour for catering.”

Results:

Class 1 (under 12 inch): 1 Ed Bennie, Freuchie; 2 Carol Jack, Upper Largo; 3 Alex Wilson, Dalry, and Ian Livingstone, Bute. Extra prizes: best break: Ian Livingstone; straightest: Ed Bennie; best first six furrows: Ed Bennie; best last six furrows: Ed Bennie; best ins and outs: Ed Bennie; best finish: Ed Bennie.

Class 2 (12 inch and over): 1 Robert McKechnie, Wishaw; 2 Gavin Reid, Craigwilline; 3 Terry Rooney, Bute. Extra prizes: best break: Jamie Reid, Lagwilline; straightest: Robert McKechnie; best first six furrows: Robert McKechnie; best last six furrows: Gavin Reid; best ins and outs: Terry Rooney; best finish: Terry Rooney.

Class 3 (reversible) two furrow: 1 Mike Melville, Cambusbarron; 2 Richard McCrindle, Corputechan; 3 Jamie McKendrick, Glenrioch. Extra prizes: best break: Mike Melville; straightest: Richard McCrindle; best first six furrows: Mike Melville; best last six furrows: Mike Melville; best ins and outs: Jamie McKendrick; best finish: Mike Melville.

Class 4 (reversible) multi furrow: 1 Fraser MacPhail, Garcalfra; 2 Steven Gannon, Creiff; 3 David Taylor, Creiff. Extra prizes: best break: James Young, Drum; best first six furrows: Fraser MacPhail; straightest: James Young; best last six furrows: Fraser MacPhail; best ins and outs: Fraser MacPhail; best finish: Fraser MacPhail.

Special prizes: first on field: Richard McCrindle; first finished: Kevin Booth; least experienced: Ian McKay; youngest competitor: Jamie McKendrick; furthest travelled: Carol Jack; oldest competitor: Jock Sommerville; best looking ploughman: Paul Newall; hardest luck: Ian McKay; worst plot: Jamie McKendrick; tidiest yoke: Ben Bannatyne.

Tractor prizes: best maintained; Jock Sommerville; oldest tractor: Ian Livingstone and John Mayberry; newest tractor: Stuart Newlands.

Cup winners: Kintyre Agricultural Cup and winner of the RHAS Medal: Robert McKechnie; Messrs Ralston Cup for winner in non-medal class: Fraser MacPhail; John Cullen Cup for winner of two furrow reversible class: Mike Melville; Andrew Smith and Sons Shield for multi furrow reversible class: Fraser MacPhail; John McKay Cup for best lot by 25-year-old or younger: Jamie McKendrick; Glenside Cup for most points using Case/International tractor: James Young; Hamilton Bros Cup for most points using Massey Ferguson tractor: Fraser MacPhail; Ford Cup for most points using a Ford tractor: Mike Melville.