September 2018 – FFF&B Ploughing Match

The last Saturday in September, glorious weather and the annual Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins and Burford Ploughing Match. We attended last year’s event and so enjoyed ourselves we decided to go again this year. The match is held at different farms each year and this year was at Friar’s Court Clanfield. There were many entries for all sorts of tractors, horses and different ploughs and it was amazing to look across the fields at all the different sections.

There were 17 sets of horses and they and the ploughmen looked spectacular.

After each furrow was cut the ploughman would clean his plough before getting the horses to turn around and set off again. it was a slow business and just demonstrated how much more efficient we are today even if it is less wonderful to look at!

We thoroughly enjoyed walking around the very large site looking at the various old machines including the belt powered threshing machine with steam engine providing the belt power.

We also liked the world war two tractor complete with scythe and a land girl driver. Within the arena there were various activities including a gun dog display, and a tug of war between a 1950′s tractor and the children. It was quite a sight watching the response to the request for children to help – they appeared from all around the arena in vast numbers from those who could just about walk to teenagers!

It was a great day out!