Competition ploughs

Clive · Sep 14, 2014

Today I went to a ploughing match (the irony is not lost on me !). Was a nice few hours out with family

Can someone explain to me where the limits on technology are on these competition ploughs are ? The one I was looking at had absolutely adjustment of everything hydraulically and cameras on the plough etc, nothing like a commercial plough at all and a very expensive looking bit of kit ?

Struck me the next logical step would be rtk 3d GPS to automatically control and adjust of the hydraulics and to steer perfectly but I guess that's not allowed ? Or maybe it should be as there is still a skill set in setting these things up ?

Great day out though and more fun than a theme park for 2x tractor mad boys !

Rob Holmes · Sep 14, 2014

Did they burn effigy's of you? lol

Clive · Sep 14, 2014

Rob Holmes said:
Did they burn effigy's of you? lol

I wore a disguise !

marcot · Sep 14, 2014

Clive said:
Today I went to a ploughing match (the irony is not lost on me !). Was a nice few hours out with family

Can someone explain to me where the limits on technology are on these competition ploughs are ? The one I was looking at had absolutely adjustment of everything hydraulically and cameras on the plough etc, nothing like a commercial plough at all and a very expensive looking bit of kit ?

Struck me the next logical step would be rtk 3d GPS to automatically control and adjust of the hydraulics and to steer perfectly but I guess that's not allowed ? Or maybe it should be as there is still a skill set in setting these things up ?

Great day out though and more fun than a theme park for 2x tractor mad boys !

Funniest post this year .....how about a day out to Camgrain for your next excursion?

Rob Holmes · Sep 14, 2014

....and the Zetor factory!

Mydexta · Sep 14, 2014

I personally don't have a problem
With all these "world style" ploughs, as long as they are kept in their own class and not thrown in with us vintage/classic ploughmen at matches because there isn't enough of them
To make a class.

Like has been said on here before, you can have all the fancy hydraulics and adjustments, but if you don't know how and when to do what and where then you are on a hiding to nothing!!!!

Roy Stokes · Sep 14, 2014

Clive, the class with that technology was the World Style reversible where apart from gps or laser guidance there are very few other limits, the idea of this class was to allow the ploughmen to design/manufacture their own mouldboards and bits and pieces then some of their development ended up being taken on, maybe modified and used on commercial ploughs by plough manufacturers.

Sadly today, in the quest for perfection the link between match ploughing and commercial everyday ploughing is all but lost, however the gentlemen who use these ploughs and vintage/classic ploughs to good effect are the ones to employ when extremely good ploughing is needed to completely invert problem weeds and seeds such as BG and brome.

I was also there today, is that your father who is chief steward?

might just add I did win my class

John 1594 · Sep 14, 2014

Roy Stokes said:
Clive, the class with that technology was the World Style reversible where apart from gps or laser guidance there are very few other limits, the idea of this class was to allow the ploughmen to design/manufacture their own mouldboards and bits and pieces then some of their development ended up being taken on, maybe modified and used on commercial ploughs by plough manufacturers.

Sadly today, in the quest for perfection the link between match ploughing and commercial everyday ploughing is all but lost, however the gentlemen who use these ploughs and vintage/classic ploughs to good effect are the ones to employ when extremely good ploughing is needed to completely invert problem weeds and seeds such as BG and brome.

I was also there today, is that your father who is chief steward?

might just add I did win my class

if you blow that trumpet any harder you might need ear muffs.....just saying.

Clive · Sep 14, 2014

Roy Stokes said:
Clive, the class with that technology was the World Style reversible where apart from gps or laser guidance there are very few other limits, the idea of this class was to allow the ploughmen to design/manufacture their own mouldboards and bits and pieces then some of their development ended up being taken on, maybe modified and used on commercial ploughs by plough manufacturers.

Sadly today, in the quest for perfection the link between match ploughing and commercial everyday ploughing is all but lost, however the gentlemen who use these ploughs and vintage/classic ploughs to good effect are the ones to employ when extremely good ploughing is needed to completely invert problem weeds and seeds such as BG and brome.

I was also there today, is that your father who is chief steward?

might just add I did win my class

Thanks for the explanation, seeing the amount of control of adjustments made me wonder where the line was drawn

Yes my dad was chief steward (yet more irony !)

Congratulations on the win

Roy Stokes · Sep 14, 2014

John 1594 said:
if you blow that trumpet any harder you might need ear muffs.....just saying.

yes, and all done driving a DB aswell,
you are a fine one to talk, Mr " I don't need GPS or any modern technology " "Christ is there no one on here that can actually drive a combine " and all that other shite you spout, you may well be very good if a little slow at repairing your old junkers, probably had to learn the hard way as you cannot afford a decent machine, but you will be a long time learning to plough at the level I plough at

chaffcutter · Sep 14, 2014

Well done Roy, but your neighbour was pretty close I thought ( not my call today though!)

ploughman1963 · Sep 14, 2014

Well done Roy, was trying to find tie to call you to see how you got on

Roy Stokes · Sep 15, 2014

Congratulations on the win[/QUOTE]

chaffcutter said:
Well done Roy, but your neighbour was pretty close I thought ( not my call today though!)

Stuart next door was using RWM's, which in the conditions gave him better furrow definition, however in hard conditions they struggle to hold the line, consequently it was long way off straight, this showed in his start and finish which were a long way out

By contrast, my middle work was bang on straight but due to having to plough on a shorter toplink than normal to keep it in it was dull and didn't catch the eye, the technical parts, opening, start and finish were all straight level and properly ploughed which gave me the edge.
A quick scan of the points sheet showed me to be quite away ahead

chaffcutter · Sep 15, 2014

Oh yes, not questioning the result at all, as you say the definition was the thing that took the eye on the finished plot, was mentioned to me by one or two who had not seen the score sheets!

ploughman1963 · Sep 15, 2014

That's often how people think a result was wrong - overall appearance is only one aspect and as Roy points out - the way to win is to get good scores in the things like ins and outs, stRts etc-as long as you get a judge who understands that as well

Roy Stokes · Sep 15, 2014

The Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society is a fantastic organization and a credit to the members who put a large amount of hard work to keeping it going.

The judges for the ploughing matches are sent from differing areas to judge another district's match, so maybe Uttoxeter district will judge south staffs, Burton will judge Lichfield and so on so forth.

results can be variable to say the least and in the past we have been judged by farmers who have no experience of driving a plough let alone the aspects of conventional ploughing or world style reversible.

However a quick scan of the plots in each class at the end of the day on Sunday gave me an idea of who would win what and to be fair the judges were spot on.

The meal put on by the ladies of Lichfield district was excellent as it has been for many years

John 1594 · Sep 15, 2014

Roy Stokes said:
yes, and all done driving a DB aswell,
you are a fine one to talk, Mr " I don't need GPS or any modern technology " "Christ is there no one on here that can actually drive a combine " and all that other shite you spout, you may well be very good if a little slow at repairing your old junkers, probably had to learn the hard way as you cannot afford a decent machine, but you will be a long time learning to plough at the level I plough at

slow at repairing them....thats strange, i had a gearbox delivered here thursday eve, by saturday i had it all back together and its now out on hire earning its way again

do main dealer work that fast?

as for the "level" you plough at, i have no interest in match ploughing, having tried it and came across people with attitudes such as yourself, and the famous "yorkshire disease" id hate to end up the same...

reminds me when you quoted someone on here "ive yet to see that plough produce match winning work in your hands"

talk about shooting the poor sod down, people need encouragement, not berating from some old fart like you who has apparently "done and seen it all"

you could have offered him advice as to where he was going wrong, but no, thats purely against principle, dont help anyone, just critiscise.

rant over.

Roy Stokes · Sep 15, 2014

John 1594 said:
slow at repairing them....thats strange, i had a gearbox delivered here thursday eve, by saturday i had it all back together and its now out on hire earning its way again

do main dealer work that fast?

as for the "level" you plough at, i have no interest in match ploughing, having tried it and came across people with attitudes such as yourself, and the famous "yorkshire disease" id hate to end up the same...

reminds me when you quoted someone on here "ive yet to see that plough produce match winning work in your hands"

talk about shooting the poor sod down, people need encouragement, not berating from some old fart like you who has apparently "done and seen it all"

you could have offered him advice as to where he was going wrong, but no, thats purely against principle, dont help anyone, just critiscise.

rant over.

I have thought in the past that you have a problem with anything modern with a little technology added to it, but I now realize I was wrong and your problem is with success, the more successful someone/something is the more you dislike it/them.

The post in which you refer to is the truth, I have seen Ley253's plough running twice and it has yet to impress me, constructive criticism has helped me get to where I am, my biggest critic apart from myself is a very good friend and forum member Ploughman 1963, sometimes the truth hurt's but it will put you on the right course.

As for offering advice, I do regularly to those who ask questions, some listen and use my advice to good effect, and I offer tuition sessions during winter months which are becoming popular

Edit, should have added that when I first tried match ploughing the other competitors were very encouraging and I have never experienced the attitudes you describe, however it is notable that they don't seem to take to those who are so far up their own A hole that they can taste their breakfast

Tonym · Sep 15, 2014

Steady up lads before you start fighting. I have known Roy for several years since I started ploughing and besides being a thoroughly nice chap he is always ready to give advise to anyone young or old. How can you advise someone if they think their plough and ploughing is perfect? If there is a fault with either they need to know in order to correct those faults. If they are not prepared to listen to criticism there is not much you can do to help them improve.

arcobob · Sep 16, 2014

Some can`t learn and some won`t learn. Ask any teacher. Unfortunately, even in the classroom, the poor learners build up resentment and chips on their shoulders, throw in the towel and become drop outs in society. I have never come across a top level ploughman who was not prepared to spend time helping others if asked in the correct manner but many don`t offer advice voluntarily for fear of being branded big headed or arrogant. We all want our sport to continue and appreciate the pressing need for new talent.

Competition ploughs

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