In Scotland ploughing matches started to be held in the late eighteenth century. By the first decade of the nineteenth century matches were held in a number of locations across Scotland and became more frequent in the following decades. Because of their local importance accounts of them were published in local newspapers. They included information on the location of the matches, the number of ploughs that started, the award winners and the judges. They usually noted the soil conditions and the quality of the work. Sometimes they made comments on the number of attendees, the weather on the day, as well as the ploughing technologies.
The following accounts give a flavour of what ploughing matches were like in 1825:
“Ploughing match
At Culter, Lanarkshire, on Saturday the 12th of February current, there was a ploughing match in a field belonging to Mr Dickson of Kilbucho. Fourteen ploughs, all of the parish of Culter, started, and each of them ploughed half an acre in a superior style. Three farmers from the neighbouring parishes of Biggar, Kilbucho, and Symington, were appointed judges. Several of the lots were so nearly equal in excellence, that the judges found difficulty in deciding which had the superiority; but after mature examination, they awarded the five highest prizes to the following persons:-
1. To Robert Ferguson, servant to Mr Andrew Watson, in Culterallers.
2. To Peter Watson, son to Mr John Watson in Nisbet.
3. To George Carrick, servant to Mr Syme of Culter-Mains.
4. To David Hunter, farmer in Highfield.
5. To Daniel Muir, farmer in Hanginshaw.
The day was exceedingly favourable; and though the competitors were limited to the parish of Culter, yet from other parishes there were above 200 spectators who witnessed the competition.” (Caledonian mercury, 21 February 1825)
“Ploughing match
On Monday last, the 21st February, a ploughing match took place in two parks on the estate of St Fort, possessed by Mr Robert Nicol, Brackmount Mill. Sixty-nine ploughs started, and although the ground they had to work upon was ten years old lea, and some parts of it rather thin land, yet the men finished their work in a very superior style. The Judges, Mr Dingwall, Ramornie, Mr Walker, Dairsie, and Mr White, Craigfoodie, had the greatest difficulty, from the excellence of the work, in declaring the successful candidates. After a minute and laborious examination they awarded the premiums as follows:-The first to Robert Melville, servant to Mr Mitchell, Straiton; the second to Peter Lonie, do; the third to James Band, servant to Mr Thomson, Pusk, the fourth to Thomas Rodger, servant to Mr Edie, Kilmany; the fifth to Robert Donaldson, servant to Mr Melville, Peashills; the sixth to David Cunningham, servant to Mr Thomson, Pusk; the seventh to Robert Robertson, servant to Mr Bogie, Rires; the eighth to John Finlay, servant to Mr Thomson, Pusk. The busy scene viewed from any of the surrounding high grounds was most interesting, and presented to the eye something more like a panorama, than bustling nature.” (Fife herald, 24 February 1825)
“On Monday the 28th March, a ploughing match took place on a lea-field at Abercairney, when twenty-eight ploughs started. The field was well adapted for the purpose, and the day being fine, a great number of spectators was drawn to the spot. After a laborious task, the judges awarded the prizes as follows:-
1st To John Ewan, son to Robert Ewan, Ballyclone.
2d To Peter Robertson, servant to Mr Moray of Abercairney.
3d To James Drummond, servant to David Young, Balyclone.
4th To Peter Carmichael, servant to Thomas Scott, Kintochar.
5th To hector Drysdale, servant to Mr Moray of Abercairney.
6th To William Rutherford, servant to James Dow, Shanacher.
7th To Andrew Rodgers, servant to the rev Alexander Maxton, minister of Fowlis Wester.
Besides the above prizes, a small sum was given to each of the unsuccessful candidates. A considerable number of the tenantry on the estate sat down to an excellent dinner provided by Mr Moray; after dinner a number of appropriate toasts were drunk, and the evening was spent in the utmost conviviality and good humour. On this occasion, the liberality and good humour of Mr Moray were particularly conspicuous and afforded the highest gratification to the company, who were extremely delighted with the kind attention, the endearing affilibility, and most engaging condenscention, of their generous and highly venerated landlord, for whose welfare, long life, and prosperity, and for the happiness of his amiable lady, they offered up their most ardent and affectionate wishes.”
(Perthshire courier, 8 April 1825)
“Newlands annual ploughing match was held 26th December, on a field of clover ley, on the farm of Stevenson, possessed by Mr Paterson. Twenty-two ploughs started in competition. The wile of them were of iron; part of them made by Wilkie, but the greater part by smiths within the parish. Good ploughing is now so common through the shire of Peebles that a bad ploughman is scarcely to be found; so that, in this instance, it was with difficulty the judges could adjudge a preference in awarding the premiums as follows:
The first to James Niven, servant to Mr Aitchison in Boreland.
The 2d to James Lewis, servant to Mr Gibson in Hallmyre.
The 3d to James Ballantyne, servant to Mr Stevenson in Noblehall.
The 4th to Robert Vetch, servant to Mr Stevenson in Deanhouses.
The 5th to William Baxendean, servant to the above Mr Aitchison.
The 6th to William Ketchin, servant to Mr Sanderson in Dovecote.
The 7th to John Dickson, servant to Mr Stevenson in nobelehall.
The managers, judges, and visitors thereafter sat down to an excellent dinner, at Mr Wilson’s in Romanno Bridgend, and spent the evening convivially over their whisky toddy.” (Caledonian mercury, 31 December 1825).
