Congratulations to Angus, Year 11, who recently won the Novice Class 4 Weald of Kent Ploughing Match!

We asked Angus what was involved in training for such an event and what his aspirations are within this field (pardon the pun):

“I had to learn to plough the tractor and practiced a lot after school and at the weekend on the farm next to Bethany. The farmer is a family friend and he lent me a plough and let me practice on his land. Another friend of his helped teach me after school and set out the ploughing poles to teach me how to plough. I took the plough and tractor home and cleaned it and prepared it for the show, tidying up bits on it.

As a family we had a stand at the show and so we took the tractor down there the night before the competition as I had to be there at 8am the following morning. The ploughing match was at Hawkenbury in September 17th and I set out the ploughing poles and turned an open furrow to then be judged.

After being judged we would plough from the other competitors back to our start in which I was on Tom Eckley’s (ex Bethany pupil) and he had the next competitor etc. After that scores were announced on the day and last night there was a prize giving meeting held in which I was given the plaque for first place for Novice Ploughing. In the future I would like to continue doing ploughing matches as they are enjoyable and relaxing. I would like to study agricultural engineering and fabrication.”