A combination of depth, speed, neatness and economy of space were among factors used to judge which of the best local earth-workers moved through regional, national and international competitions.
Teams and tractors of various sizes plied their trade on 60m×10m and 60m×20m plots, but the real spectacle was the majestic graft of mighty Clydesdales, tilling the soil with pure horsepower.
Blair Lennon, Gore-based owner of Clydesdales Anna and Harry, had former competitive tractor ploughman Scott McKenzie on his team to haul an Otago-made Reid & Gray plough, from the 1890s.
"I always wanted some Clydesdales and after a while I asked Scott to help me get them doing what they were bred for.
"They were fairly easy to train really — after that it’s just practice — more for us with the plough than the horses.
"They’ve got the heavy end and we’ve got the tricky end."
Competitive ploughing is popular throughout New Zealand, with teams working a year ahead of themselves.
This year’s nationals have already taken place in Hamilton, and the winners in the top machine categories are scheduled to compete in Estonia later in the year.
Mr Lennon’s team came second in the South Otago horse competition in Milburn, which was won by Sean Leslie and Casey Tisdale, both of Middlemarch.
