THE flags of Europe flew proudly over a Pembrokeshire farm as it hosted the European Vintage ploughing championships at the end of September.

Staged as part of the 55th annual South Pembrokeshire Ploughing, Plashing and Farm Crops competitions, they were voted a huge success.

In addition to highly skilled craftsmen representing Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic and the Isle of Man there were teams competing for Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands numbering 28 ploughmen in all.

Classes scheduled included vintage and classic trailed, mounted and conventional ploughs together with vintage reversible machines.

Noteable amongst the outfits seen in use were lifelong farmer Menno de Graaf from Holland, who has been competitively ploughing for the past 22 years, with his 1926 Fordson Model F tractor drawing a two furrow Ransomes RSLD trailed plough that was built in 1937.

Competitors arrived on site at Rowston Farm, Stackpole, generously made available by Richard Prout and family, in readiness for pre-match practice ploughing in the wheat stubble field on red sandstone.

More than a hundred visiting competitors, family members and supporters, friends, guests and officials were officially made welcome at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel on the Friday evening, before the opening ceremony on Saturday, which included the raising of the national flags, a blessing of the plough and the processional drive to their individual plots before the competition actually commenced.

The popular overall European vintage champion and a previous holder of the title was an English team member, Ray Alderson, ploughing with a 1964 International B275 tractor and an 1950 Ransomes RSLD 15 trailed machine.

In reserve was George Black representing Scotland with a 1962 Massey Ferguson 35 tractor and Ransomes TS59 mounted plough and placed third was twice winner Tony Bradley of Wales with his 1958 MF35 tractor and Ransomes 1013 mounted plough.

On behalf of the host Society George John, Chairman, expressed their most sincere appreciation to the very generous sponsors, the officials, judges, stewards and many willing helpers, especially Richard and Rachel Prout, for their wonderful support and not least all the marvelously sporting competitors who had taken up the challenge and made the event such a memorable success.

Officials: President, Richard Prout, chairman, George John, secretary, Gordon Harries, European: President, Mike Childerley, secretary, Ken Chapel.

EUROPEAN RESULTS:

Trailer plough - 1, Ray Alderson, England; 2, Geert Wommelsdorff, Germany; 3, Aeneas Horan, Ireland.

Mounted plough - 1, George Black, Scotland; 2, Tony Bradley, Wales; 3, Ian Simms, Northern Ireland.

Classic conventional - 1, Roy Stokes, England; 2, Jeremy Jacobs, Wales; 3, Harold Simms, Northern Ireland.

Reversible - 1, Marius Jennisbens, Netherlands; 2, Jan Ligtvoet, Netherlands; 3, Mercer Ward, Northern Ireland.

SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE WINNERS:

Ploughing - Semi digger and overall, Rhodri George., General purpose, best back and best finish, Terry Richards, Vintage trailed, Dai Llewellyn, Vintage mounted, John Evans (Clarbeston Road), High cut, Raymond Roach, T20 Ferguson, John Evans (Eglwyswrw), Novice, Morgan Evans, Under 26 years, James George, Reversible, Steven Marvin, Horse ploughing, John Fletcher.

Plashing, James Morris.

Crops, D R John.