SOP AGM.

[Howard150]

About 26, I think David. there are, however many more who wont come to the national, believing that the best plots are "booked in advance" by the "chosen". This attitude is sadly nourished by the massive gulf that exists between the top men, and the also rans in world style, the latter carry on, blaming everyone except themselves for their failure at top level.Home town judging, and strange rules compound the problem(remember the set of photos from Chichester match I posted,) which go toward encouraging these competitors to believe they are better than they are, and their lack of success is due to "dark forces" not their own failings.

When I first started 20 years ago there were over 80 ploughing world style every year at the national match. Now the management, largely by their own efforts, have virtually extincted the class. I have said for years that the scruffy classes should have had autonomy within the SOP and that the management would then have been free to abuse their little enclave of worldstyle however they pleased. Like it or not Englands place on the world stage is justified by the fact that we (or more to the point, the elected representative) simply have not been good enough. End of.

Whilst financial constraints have had an impact on the class, there has been no management structure to cultivate young talent caused somewhat by a certain degree of nepotism. Some outstanding young talent has dissapeared from the movement, a sad loss of talent which had the potential to lift the fortunes of England on the world stage.

Poor judging by those who allegedly know better has not helped, any more than abysmally bad introduction of new aspects on the score sheet, geared primarily to pick winners. There are allegedly moves afoot to halve the points total which is also a way of grouping ploughmen together in order to further justify picking winners.

In Ploughing as in Football or Rugby League, the management lives or dies by their results. Imagine the control in those theatres of combat if they had the benfit of proxy votes and the power of veto over them!

Speaking of which - if its right what our very own Magic Maurice now says, it would seem only fair that the bill for the new Discovery to replace the worn out landcruiser ought to have been firmly placed in the hands of Doncaster Rovers!

 

[arcobob]

When I first started 20 years ago there were over 80 ploughing world style every year at the national match. Now the management, largely by their own efforts, have virtually extincted the class. I have said for years that the scruffy classes should have had autonomy within the SOP and that the management would then have been free to abuse their little enclave of worldstyle however they pleased. Like it or not Englands place on the world stage is justified by the fact that we (or the elected representative) simply are not good enough. End of.

Whilst financial constraints have had an impact on the class, there has been no management structure to cultivate young talent caused somewhat by a certain degree of nepotism. Some outstanding young talent has dissapeared from the movement, a sad loss of talent which had the potential to lift the fortunes on the world stage.

Poor judging by those who allegedly know better has not helped, any more than abysmally bad introduction of new aspects on the score sheet, geared primarily to pick winners. There are allegedly moves afoot to halve the points total which is also a way of grouping ploughmen together in order to justify picking winners.

In Ploughing as in Football or Rugby League, the management lives or dies by their results. Imagine the control in those theatres of combat if they had the benfit of proxy votes and the power of veto over them!

Speaking of which - if its right what our very own Magic Maurice now says, it would seem only fair that the bill for the new Discovery to replace the worn out landcruiser ought to have been firmly placed in the hands of Doncaster Rovers!

I hate to think that you SOP members have been supporting the wrong football team

 

[Howard150]

Their were so many bad plots on that site it was unbelievable, the reversible plough off plots were the worst I have seen in a plough off, and they were drawn out at the end of day one, peter alderslade still came out on top. Last year in York similar happened in world style class best plot on the site (DonWoodhouse)won the plough off, then David chappell won on first day of world match, luck off the draw!

Apart from your alleged 'luck of the draw' David, then the abysmal land at Marden could have been ploughed much better and much easier if the depth of ploughing was at the discretion of the ploughman and not 'as enforced'
This in turn gives rise to another sore point in that two depth stewards were employed in the Classic Class, one for each half, one working as instructed, the other just simply not working.

 

[Ley253]

When I first started 20 years ago there were over 80 ploughing world style every year at the national match. Now the management, largely by their own efforts, have virtually extincted the class. I have said for years that the scruffy classes should have had autonomy within the SOP and that the management would then have been free to abuse their little enclave of worldstyle however they pleased. Like it or not Englands place on the world stage is justified by the fact that we (or more to the point, the elected representative) simply have not been good enough. End of.

Whilst financial constraints have had an impact on the class, there has been no management structure to cultivate young talent caused somewhat by a certain degree of nepotism. Some outstanding young talent has dissapeared from the movement, a sad loss of talent which had the potential to lift the fortunes of England on the world stage.

Poor judging by those who allegedly know better has not helped, any more than abysmally bad introduction of new aspects on the score sheet, geared primarily to pick winners. There are allegedly moves afoot to halve the points total which is also a way of grouping ploughmen together in order to further justify picking winners.

In Ploughing as in Football or Rugby League, the management lives or dies by their results. Imagine the control in those theatres of combat if they had the benfit of proxy votes and the power of veto over them!

Speaking of which - if its right what our very own Magic Maurice now says, it would seem only fair that the bill for the new Discovery to replace the worn out landcruiser ought to have been firmly placed in the hands of Doncaster Rovers!

Agreed.

 

[Mrichardson]

You had the best plot in the field in kent .You won't win in somerset now after what you have said on here.

regarding bell clip for your cat!

There are various rates:
1: in and out with fencing gloves £40
2: sedate £75
Clip £75
Total £150

3: faster cat in crush FREE
Clip £75

Extras
If you are a paid up member of the SOP add 50% to prices you have money to burn!



By the way rust nuts I have also shaved rusty nuts! There are different prices also for this. But the best thing for rust nuts is to have them removed, which I can also do!

Surgical or non surgical

Members £20 per nut
Executive nuts FREE
Honoured I pay them £50 for the priviledege

 

[Mrichardson]

I hate to think that you SOP members have been supporting the wrong football team

h

Can you tell me how much you charge to shave a cats belly. Mr Richardson

Many thanks for asking about my spare jobs, due to appearing on farming forum I am expanding nation wide. I have 5 men who have recently been made un employed, wanting to join my team. They have offered to work free of wages. But the trouble is they only want ( as we say in Yorkshire) the plum jobs!!!

 

[rusty nuts]

h



Many thanks for asking about my spare jobs, due to appearing on farming forum I am expanding nation wide. I have 5 men who have recently been made un employed, wanting to join my team. They have offered to work free of wages. But the trouble is they only want ( as we say in Yorkshire) the plum jobs!!!

You could give them the job of selling cats for forty pounds that need a new home that dont like dogs and are sent back to you to sell again . Ps the meat pies at your match are very good by the way . Ever thought of having a meat pie stall at the national that would be a job for two of them although one of them that i can think of would eat all the profits .

 

[tcn ploughman]

You could give them the job of selling cats for forty pounds that need a new home that dont like dogs and are sent back to you to sell again . Ps the meat pies at your match are very good by the way . Ever thought of having a meat pie stall at the national that would be a job for two of them although one of them that i can think of would eat all the profits .

 

[tcn ploughman]

Has the grass seeds been sorted or have they rewritten the accounts before sending them to the charity commission. I understand Roger Hobson asked for compensation is that so.

 

[ploughman61]

Any body go to the AGM today, if so who got what, and any good come out of it ?

Any body going to AGM tomorrow, if so post what happens, I am not at home till Tuesday

 

[ploughman1963]

The fact remains, plots are never drawn, just allocated. The principle of drawing plots was once discussed by the executive and , in essence agreed but never implemented. I do not suggest that the outcome of the scruffy classes was the main target, simply the ability to retain control over any sinister manipulation that might at some time seem appropriate.
You simply cannot trust these people unless of course you have complete blind faith in the predictable behaviour of a basket of squirrels.

Sorry to resurrect an old post but that is factually incorrect - I can verify 2 occasions - once when the plots were drawn in the pub on the saturday night (I and many others were there) and once that Mike Holloway had us all draw our plots for the plough off ourselves from a bag on the Sunday morning.

 

[Howard150]

Sorry to resurrect an old post but that is factually incorrect - I can verify 2 occasions - once when the plots were drawn in the pub on the saturday night (I and many others were there) and once that Mike Holloway had us all draw our plots for the plough off ourselves from a bag on the Sunday morning.

In all fairness Colin I think Bob was talking about the scruffy classes and not the plough offs. Indeed the program is printed long before any ploughman is involved.

 

[ploughman1963]

Ok fair point -

In all fairness Colin I think Bob was talking about the scruffy classes and not the plough offs. Indeed the program is printed long before any ploughman is involved.

but the world style and Rev classes got Saturday are also printed ahead. You know I am a critic of much that happens whilst defending other things - this is just conspiracy theories. For many years I went along to help mark out and put pegs out - changes were often made to layout on site which would completely negate any pre-planned allocation of plots

 

[arcobob]

Ok fair point -

but the world style and Rev classes got Saturday are also printed ahead. You know I am a critic of much that happens whilst defending other things - this is just conspiracy theories. For many years I went along to help mark out and put pegs out - changes were often made to layout on site which would completely negate any pre-planned allocation of plots

The marking out of the 2011 Taunton vintage mounted and classic plots was orchestrated by the local organiser and executive director. He waved away the normal gang with many years experience to put up signs for car parks, almost certainly because he knew it would become a contentious issue. If so he was right in his assumptions but as you rightly point out, there is more than one way of skinning a cat.

 

[Howard150]

Ok fair point -

but the world style and Rev classes got Saturday are also printed ahead. You know I am a critic of much that happens whilst defending other things - this is just conspiracy theories. For many years I went along to help mark out and put pegs out - changes were often made to layout on site which would completely negate any pre-planned allocation of plots

We hold opinions as is our experience. Even in the fairest of societies you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

I can say though - before anybody shoots me down as a bad loser - that at Lincoln last there was definite chicanery went on. Most of the scruffy classes were on good level ground, as was the Classic Class. That is until the practice plots were moved from near the roundabout into the best area of the Classic plots. This resulted in the classic plots being moved uphill into what we were told by the farm manager is the only ground on the farm that they dare not grow potatoes in due to the amount of stone. Two of us at the end had unploughable plots. As the ground originally earmarked for the practice plots was largely untouched then I see no other reason for this only malice aforethough. I did not have the benefit of a fair going on or a draw.

When ever did fairness come into it whenever the SOP are concerned.

 

[Howard150]

There’s an age old Arab proverb which says “if there is something you really really want – don’t wish too hard for it as you might actually get it”
Now if it’s change you wanted, then by gum you got it - and some. Serves you right.

The Executive have proposals afoot to sack the Directors. That is apart from 8 or 9 which comprise the Executive, or so we are led to believe – “they have been advised” - that there should be no more than 8 or 9 directors and that since the articles date back to 1972 then these should be updated to the Charity commission model articles – FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM THE CHARITY COMMISSION.

It is strange that the Executive- a self propagating body – most of whom are unelected to that position – are to depose the Directors. After all according to the articles – the executive manage the day to day activities of the society ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORS. Tail wagging the all too trusting faithful dog no less. Now what you may well get is their version of the model articles – the one that says 8 or 9 directors. Get yourself the real thing which is quite clear. “There is no upper limit on the number of Directors”

Significantly, the Executive cannot legally change the status of the Directors. Trust me.

Now, we come at last to the point of this post. A few people have beaten a path to my door with the latest ‘gossip’ – well at least no more than 30. At their last official meeting, the Executive, in their wisdom, decided not to allow Desmond Jenkin to renew his membership. Desmond was advised in a letter dated 22nd Feb that this decision had been arrived at due to his past action and posts he had put on here , TFF, a whole litany of which was printed out for him. A veritable but vindictive waste of trees and ink. It is not their decision to exclude members but that of the Directors. It is my considered opinion that his crime was possibly at worst to have used the wrong kind of ink.

On the 2nd of March the same ‘learned’ body of men – despite having had no further meeting – decided In their absence that the same fate applied to John Plowright ‘due to past actions’ The e mail notifying him of this was scandalous – after telling him his membership was declined – the punchline footer boldly announced - in upper case - ‘WHY NOT JOIN AS A MEMBER’’ moral compass severely in need of rectification. It is my considered opinion that his crime at worst might just have been talking whilst he should have been listening.

The two were summarily dismissed as members after a Directors vote at the recent AGM but not before a scathing, insulting and vindictive catalogue of all John Plowright’s past actions within the SOP had been delivered to the meeting by the Chairman. A great pity that historically meeting minutes as published had never been as accurate. The legality of this vote is questionable. An illegal vote had already been taken by the Executive, most of whom were now voting a second time on the same point. The meeting had been swayed by the Chairman who when all’s said and done should be impartial. Undoubtedly all the proxy votes to hand had also been given in favour of this supposed-impartial figure.

Personally I am unable to think of one good reason why either of these men would want to rejoin a body which despite them having been good servants, has treated them so shabbily in the recent past. So much for democracy with all the opposition sacked.

A veritable Shakesperian tragedy in the making. ‘Woe, woe and thrice woe’ - one woe for Desmond, one woe for John and one very very charitable woe for none other than last years World Style representative for England.. Apologies in advance if this is wrong but…. Having given him £500 to get his tackle to Kenya (fat lot of good considering the cost) ‘the management’ have found the generosity of spirit to invoice him £837 for his air fare to the same event, and this a charity?

So much for change. For the better? Give yourselves a pat on the back.

 

[Roy Stokes]

At the moment there is panic that no site has been found for the 2019 nationals despite several of us scouting Shropshire for a site, a big problem is that many of our large units are made up of several smaller units with the landowner/tenant still retaining control of the subsidy, therefore the 3 crop rule has to be implemented on individual units so a 250 acre block of stubble in a county made up of 3-500 acre farms 20 years ago is difficult
John Plowright has access to several thousand acres of prime Lincolnshire, Dyson's land being one such area
I, despite his past differences with the society would have kept him close, the old saying goes "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer"

 

[Howard150]

At the moment there is panic that no site has been found for the 2019 nationals despite several of us scouting Shropshire for a site, a big problem is that many of our large units are made up of several smaller units with the landowner/tenant still retaining control of the subsidy, therefore the 3 crop rule has to be implemented on individual units so a 250 acre block of stubble in a county made up of 3-500 acre farms 20 years ago is difficult
John Plowright has access to several thousand acres of prime Lincolnshire, Dyson's land being one such area
I, despite his past differences with the society would have kept him close, the old saying goes "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer"

Whilst ever this state of enmity exists, the ultimate loser is ploughing. Hollow talk of bridge building shown to be none other. It would appear from the lengths that the management went to to demonise and vilify both Desmond and John that vindictive with a capital V in italics for emphasis is what currently emanates from the SOP headquarters.

Let us not forget one very very salient point. The 5 directors in question never actually made or caused any trouble. They simply highlighted that caused by the Executive in misleading the membership. Had Alan Jones not lied to the delegates at the AGM of 2015 in telling them that they had 2 years to make their mind up as to the future direction of the society, then none of this would have happened, only for the decision to be made for them a month later by the Executive. A decision which I might add took 9 whole lunar months to legalise. A veritable shot in the foot - whosoever it was that actually loaded the gun.

 

[arcobob]

At the moment there is panic that no site has been found for the 2019 nationals despite several of us scouting Shropshire for a site, a big problem is that many of our large units are made up of several smaller units with the landowner/tenant still retaining control of the subsidy, therefore the 3 crop rule has to be implemented on individual units so a 250 acre block of stubble in a county made up of 3-500 acre farms 20 years ago is difficult
John Plowright has access to several thousand acres of prime Lincolnshire, Dyson's land being one such area
I, despite his past differences with the society would have kept him close, the old saying goes "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer"

You know what John Plowright has done in the past including initially calling an amnesty until after the Worlds. He has had dirt kicked in his face for years and if I were in his shoes I would refuse to cooperate ever again. He has been treated badly by the SOP for years and has clung on in the forlorn hope that things would change for the better. Howard`s post indicates otherwise.
I have also heard about attempts to obtain a site for 2019 in East Anglia. There is not much hope of too much help from this neck of the woods either because it is now a widely held view that anyone who involves themselves with the SOP will get similar treatment to JP. In fact they would be seen as complicit in the underhand and unacceptable activities of a bunch of power grabbing maniacs.

 

[Petetheploughman]