The retired Gore farmer was one of 13 entrants from around Canterbury, Otago and Southland who ploughed up and down a paddock in Hawea Flat for three hours, under grey skies.
He said the Hawea Flat competition ground was in "perfect condition" and the only thing missing was a bit of sunshine.
Mr Rutherford said he practised ploughing on his lifestyle block but the best practice was at the matches "because you are lining up next to someone else".
Organiser John Osborne said the move towards more surface cultivation on farms had turned ploughing into more of a sport.
He had hoped Saturday's event would have attracted more spectators but admitted one spectator once told him it was "a bit like watching paint dry".
Mr Osborne is hoping to host the World Ploughing championships at the same Hawea Flat field in 2028, the 75th year of the event.
