Dodgy committees.

[Pennine Ploughing]

when I've done it, it's generally a case varying between taking the slightest slither with the rear to taking a mammoth front furrow. I do what I need to do to get straight. I wouldn't really call it damaging my neighbours start....

you can do what you want, as long as you don't disturb or run on your neighbours plot

 

[Kenham]

Sometimes it is not the ploughman next to you, it is the person who has marked out plots. A few matches down here are very good at marking out with a wheel, that usually means the plots are anything up to 12 inches out of parallel, then of course if the same is done the other end but the other way you are 2 ft out. Or of course there was the match I went to on the south coast, marked out for a two furrow plot one end and a three furrow plot the other, great fun. I always measure the plot before I start then you can ask the steward what he intends to do about it if it is wrong. ( Usually nothing ! )

 

[Ley253]

Sometimes it is not the ploughman next to you, it is the person who has marked out plots. A few matches down here are very good at marking out with a wheel, that usually means the plots are anything up to 12 inches out of parallel, then of course if the same is done the other end but the other way you are 2 ft out. Or of course there was the match I went to on the south coast, marked out for a two furrow plot one end and a three furrow plot the other, great fun. I always measure the plot before I start then you can ask the steward what he intends to do about it if it is wrong. ( Usually nothing ! )

Spot the missing peg is another game, easy to spot, but fun to correct! One plot wide one end, two the other!

 

[rusty nuts]

Once again John how so nearly right you are
Option 2 1 vote
There are indeed 3 alternatives
Saying nothing and going along with it, head buried in sand
Starting another National Body.
Changing the existing body.

For me option 1 is a non starter. I will neither go along with it no more than accept it. People of a similar mindset do exist. Are we not to discuss things on forums such as this? Should the farming forum be done away with?

Change the existing national body. As if? In a body where 300 proxy votes can be called up at will, any opposition is summarily dismissed, then get real John whilst this has been my preferred option for a number of years then quite simply it ain't gonna happen and believe you me, there are a lot of good men set out with the intention to change things.

Starting another national body is looking more and more favourable. Never my preferred alternative, it has the potential to overcome what is currently unchangeable nationally.

With regard to straightness, in my view one that of many others, there are definitely four aspects during the ploughing of a plot. It seems alien to me that 75% are simply lumped together as an amalgam whilst 25% is singled out to be judged in an alternative manner.

Both you and I have a right to our opinions however we arrive at them, either by experience or familial or familiar ties. You yourself have been fairly conspicuous by your absence at national AGM's

Both you and I also have a right to express them how we feel best, whether or not it be my direct approach or your more unorthodox round the houses means with a view to coming from behind and tripping up or belittling people. The significance of Did you mean.... obviously went over your head

Dave

 

[MrNoo]

Ok, at a recent match, here are 2 splits, guess the scores given. I will add it's none of my work but am just interested in the collectives thoughts re scores and reasons why, what's good and what's bad. It is Fergie class.

 

[Roy Stokes]

The 1st one is generally very tidy apart from one great big problem of not cutting through the tramline, the rules state all the land must be cut through, the 2nd doesn't look quite as clean but IMO must be worth more due to the fact all the land is cut,
If the 1st one gained more points it must have been judged from the far end

 

[Howard150]

1 is probably the straightest however he has not handled the tramlines very well. In general the outgoing furrow is poor. It looks as though it was brushed on the return by either a badly set tailpiece or a disc hub, in which case silverware will elude him until he learns where the disc needs to be set.

It is my considered opinion that 2 is better in general as it is much more uniform throughout its length. Yet again the work would benefit from better adjustment of the rear disc.

As in all things it's a fine line between right and wrong, usually all down to attention to detail.
For Ferguson work the devil is in the detail and correct depth is critical due to the construction of the disc assembly being a fork and spindle as opposed to one sided with a hub.

 

[MrNoo]

Ok, one scored 8/20 and one scored 15/20. I know the devil is in the detail but just trying to see any reasoning between the different scores. In my eye the 2nd was the better but am wondering if it is a little deep? I wasn't there so only have the pictures to go from.

 

[arcobob]

I think the second one is only just as deep as it had to be. The first one is scarcely cut through and a tad straighter but the second one gets the verdict. The points difference is not justified, perhaps 10 and 13 would be fair.

 

[MrNoo]

Second one scored 8 and the first one scored 15!! I did ask the chap who one of the splits belongs to if he'd sent me the wrong pictures, but no. In my book it just pushes you on harder to do an even better job next time.

 

[ploughman61]

Second one scored 8 and the first one scored 15!! I did ask the chap who one of the splits belongs to if he'd sent me the wrong pictures, but no. In my book it just pushes you on harder to do an even better job next time.

Second one is worth 11 maybe 12 first one is only worth 7 or 8, you only give 15 to really good starts, but it shows why you must have a judge at each end of the plot.

 

[MrNoo]

Apparently only judged from the end the pictures were taken.

 

[Roy Stokes]

Naming no names I now know that the 1st one was done by a seasoned high ranking ploughman and the 2nd an up and coming ploughman, this should NOT make any difference to how points are awarded but sadly in some cases it does, and before everyone starts shouting this has happened to me in both directions, sometime it has helped and sometimes hindered progress, I don't even think some judges know it's happening to them, it may be phsycological

 

[ploughman61]

Apparently only judged from the end the pictures were taken.

All I can say is plot 1 must have been good mates with the judge!

 

[MrNoo]

Well, I think it's no bad thing, just push us newcomers harder and encourage us to get better, so eventually we'll be top of the pile!

 

[ploughman61]

Well, I think it's no bad thing, just push us newcomers harder and encourage us to get better, so eventually we'll be top of the pile!

But it's not fair on newcomers, it doesn't make any difference to me if you are world champion or ploughing at your first match I will judge you both the same.

 

[MrNoo]

I am a newcomer!! Only done 6 matches.

 

[ploughman61]

I am a newcomer!! Only done 6 matches.

Don't care if you've done 6 or 600 matches would still judge it as I see it, at the start of the day your all equal on 0 points

 

[Roy Stokes]

Well, I think it's no bad thing, just push us newcomers harder and encourage us to get better, so eventually we'll be top of the pile!

That's a very healthy attitude Chris but I fear that some might be put off match ploughing when things like this happen, on the other side of the coin there are plenty of novices who can't see the faults in their work and feel that good judges who are doing the job properly are awarding points to the top ploughmen just because of who they are when in fact they are just rewarding good work, in this case though I think the majority feel the 2nd opening should have been awarded more points.

 

[MrNoo]

Yes, you maybe right, I guess it depends on how stubborn you are, they'll always be another day, another split/start and finish. I did think to get a blonde wig and a pair of fake tits to see if that helped my scores