Sop rules

[chaffcutter]

The only way to stop the handling curse is zero tolerance, at Lichfield we have a Yellow Card followed by a Red for a second offence which is automatic disqualification, and I think we have cracked it, I saw no-one doing any hand work at all last week. There was none last year either.

 

[MrNoo]

Why warn them, judges/stewards should just dock 20 points as soon as it's witnessed, sure there'd be a bit of discontent to start with but then they'd soon get the message. Or just make sure the stubble is so long that it would take them too long to clear it by hand and they'd be out of time. Match today was like that and actually very little gardening occurred but then you'd have produced a better plot with a cultivator to be fair.

 

[Howard150]

What are the main rules that most stewards should be looking out for?some i have seen don't seem to have a clue what there on the field for!

Alotta lotta stewards along wi’ a lotta lotta judges are oblivious to the rules. Not sure about Wales and NI but the offending parties in Scotland and the Republic have little or no excuse for not knowing the rules as up to date rules are published long before the event.
In this once great nation of ours then you can pay for them or you might well be lucky if you get an up to date version in having paid for the program at the National.

As far as what steward are looking for then the list is endless. The main thing they are looking for is what’s on the list of indiscretion’s provided by the organisers and whatever and only whatever is on that list.

I well remember a steward telling me to get a move on whilst setting a false rig on an end plot - ‘all the others have been judged’

The one they all forget - and somebody of such a high moral stance as to call Ray Alderson unsportsmanlike to change plots from one which was unploughable was guilty of at North Notts - Ploughing other than on your plot - penalty disqualification. Rarely if ever penalised. How many times do we see people sneaking off across a field to set their plough up ready for the opening?

It’s up to the steward to award time penalties, penalties however the organisers decide for handling, finishing wrong way, abuse of fellow competitors or officials, number of empty runs, rolling openings and chips.

And the one they all forget - the steward is there supposedly to help the ploughmen!

Harry the worst class that I have witnessed for handling is actually your own, it's not often you see someone walk all the way down their crown adjusting it. The Bridgewater match last w-end, chap on the end was at it all match, whenever I looked, he was at it. Another chap, grey haired, drives red tractor, switches between world style and classic I think is also bad for it. And it's not just a bit of stubble here and there, it's rife!
Lol, I reckon you secretly fancy having a go with a Fergie, you could show us how it's done!!

Looks like your landlord getting you all a bad name again Harry!

 

[Ley253]

Why warn them, judges/stewards should just dock 20 points as soon as it's witnessed, sure there'd be a bit of discontent to start with but then they'd soon get the message. Or just make sure the stubble is so long that it would take them too long to clear it by hand and they'd be out of time. Match today was like that and actually very little gardening occurred but then you'd have produced a better plot with a cultivator to be fair.

The official position now is no warning from the stewards, this is to protect them from the more "Excitable" ploughmen. The printed warning in the rues is considered sufficient

 

[Ley253]

Alotta lotta stewards along wi’ a lotta lotta judges are oblivious to the rules. Not sure about Wales and NI but the offending parties in Scotland and the Republic have little or no excuse for not knowing the rules as up to date rules are published long before the event.
In this once great nation of ours then you can pay for them or you might well be lucky if you get an up to date version in having paid for the program at the National.

As far as what steward are looking for then the list is endless. The main thing they are looking for is what’s on the list of indiscretion’s provided by the organisers and whatever and only whatever is on that list.

I well remember a steward telling me to get a move on whilst setting a false rig on an end plot - ‘all the others have been judged’

The one they all forget - and somebody of such a high moral stance as to call Ray Alderson unsportsmanlike to change plots from one which was unploughable was guilty of at North Notts - Ploughing other than on your plot - penalty disqualification. Rarely if ever penalised. How many times do we see people sneaking off across a field to set their plough up ready for the opening?

It’s up to the steward to award time penalties, penalties however the organisers decide for handling, finishing wrong way, abuse of fellow competitors or officials, number of empty runs, rolling openings and chips.

And the one they all forget - the steward is there supposedly to help the ploughmen!



Looks like your landlord getting you all a bad name again Harry!

He is no where near the standard attained by the Tonkins! I have been waiting for more than two hours for the elder to adjust his first four furrows, before now! He is quite capable of putting the whole start up by hand, the plough merely supplying the dirt!
To be honest,DC has been a good boy in the matches I have seen him in down here.

 

[arcobob]

The official position now is no warning from the stewards, this is to protect them from the more "Excitable" ploughmen. The printed warning in the rues is considered sufficient

Boneless, spineless and totally gutless. Match ploughing is going down the tubes faster than the London Underground. I am fast approaching the day of retirement because the enjoyment has gone, high jacked by cheats and the nasty element.

 

[Ley253]

Boneless, spineless and totally gutless. Match ploughing is going down the tubes faster than the London Underground. I am fast approaching the day of retirement because the enjoyment has gone, high jacked by cheats and the nasty element.

I dont quite understand this post. Stewards are elderly men, who do the job for no reward, what is wrong with protecting them from the fist waving fraternity?

 

[Howard150]

I dont quite understand this post. Stewards are elderly men, who do the job for no reward, what is wrong with protecting them from the fist waving fraternity?

No matter what the debate on here or how good it is then it always - not sometimes - always gets back to handling.

Three big but very simple points here.
When in Rome do as the Romans do. (Works both ways)
Simple card system is all that’s required.
Ploughmen abusing stewards should be a) ashamed of themselves b) banned.

Just in passing, much abuse could be reduced if an aspect relating to foul and abusive use of a scoresheet were introduced to curb malicious judges and prevent them favouring their buddies.

Inasmuch as it’s not falling that hurts you but landing, a yapping dog never hurt anybody. Nonetheless match organisers should man up and protect the people they engaged to police it for them.

 

[arcobob]

I dont quite understand this post. Stewards are elderly men, who do the job for no reward, what is wrong with protecting them from the fist waving fraternity?

I am particularly referring to organisers. If they appoint stewards they should steward and apply the rules. The stewards should receive total backing in enforcing the rules and angry outbursts by ploughmen when correctly dealt with should result in a ban and reported to other local organisations and even the SOP. The later will hide under a stone because their antics are often far from honourable.

 

[Ley253]

I am particularly referring to organisers. If they appoint stewards they should steward and apply the rules. The stewards should receive total backing in enforcing the rules and angry outbursts by ploughmen when correctly dealt with should result in a ban and reported to other local organisations and even the SOP. The later will hide under a stone because their antics are often far from honourable.

I can only agree with the two post above, but they refer to a perfect world. That no longer exists.First of all, handling is the yellow head on the boil of rule evasion, so always gets the most publicity.Everyone sees it, unlike the moving of plot markers to give your neighbour a taper. Next, like it or not, the days of some ploughmen accepting stewards penalties without question are over, I have witnessed a judge being verbally abused by a ploughman who didnt agree with his score at an earlier match! True, these people should be banned, but no system exists to do this, as in effect there is no governing body. While the great god "Entry Fee" reigns supreme, organisers wont do the banning!
Awarding cards, verbal warnings high vis jackets, all expose the stewards, who can then become a target for those of a violent disposition, this then makes finding people willing to be marked as such difficult. Stewards are more effective if no one knows who they are, and the only time their work is referred to is in the penalty points box.This does pose a problem in sorting out some problems, but that can be over come by having a head steward in the Secs tent, who could be called on to sort out non disciplinary problems, break downs for example.
Finally, stewards should be issued with a rule book, and reminded that its what is in there, not personal preference that applies! A note pad and pen could be a useful addition. These would be returned to the match sec after the match.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

View attachment 718552

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

I can see both sides of this, I particularly like "when in Rome"... If the match has a strict no handling policy, then adhere to it. If it doesn't then it has two choices, bring one in or don't worry about it. I cannot abide all this flags and cards and extra crap. Its a constant debate and endless threads always seem to come back to it. Does the level of handling talking about win matches, I struggle to see if it does! If you have gone down your whole crown trucking in stubble you need your head checking, if you've tucked a stray piece of stubble then what's the problem? Everyone seems to get so bent out of shape on this subject. If a passer by remarks to me about gardening I happily say "yes, very easy to comment from the headland..." It would be simpler if all matches enforced strict no handling, but that is never going to happen!

I'll stick with "when in Rome..."

 

[Ley253]

I can see both sides of this, I particularly like "when in Rome"... If the match has a strict no handling policy, then adhere to it. If it doesn't then it has two choices, bring one in or don't worry about it. I cannot abide all this flags and cards and extra crap. Its a constant debate and endless threads always seem to come back to it. Does the level of handling talking about win matches, I struggle to see if it does! If you have gone down your whole crown trucking in stubble you need your head checking, if you've tucked a stray piece of stubble then what's the problem? Everyone seems to get so bent out of shape on this subject. If a passer by remarks to me about gardening I happily say "yes, very easy to comment from the headland..." It would be simpler if all matches enforced strict no handling, but that is never going to happen!

I'll stick with "when in Rome..."

Every match has a strict no handling policy, its covered by the rider "SOP rules apply" And yes, it does alter results, otherwise it would not be worth the effort!Tucking in stubble on the crown? Much more than that! How about carrying chunks of the headland mark and packing low places with them? Importing stones to cover bad spots? Pushing the middle furrows together by hand, the entire length of the plot? Or pulling them apart and pushing them down? Making a nice seam in the crown by pulling a tail fin on edge down the centre by hand? And there is a team situation where one ploughman distracts the steward while his mate adjusts the work!
When in Rome? Ye gods. so x and y are cheating, but that makes it fine for you to as well? really good way of bringing new blood in! How do you think the beginner feels if he has done a good plot only to be shoved down the order by a few cheating handlers.
I am surprised that a ploughman of your standing would post the fact that he cant stand any attempts to enforce the rules, and would like to stifle debate on the subject!

 

[Roy Stokes]

I'm with you Fergie, you can't polish a turd ! most of the complaints about the odd bit of handling comes from those whose standard isn't up there, however one very important point,

You will not get away with handling at the national so it's better to be able to put a plot together without mauling it to death

 

[Roy Stokes]

He is no where near the standard attained by the Tonkins! I have been waiting for more than two hours for the elder to adjust his first four furrows, before now! He is quite capable of putting the whole start up by hand, the plough merely supplying the dirt!
To be honest,DC has been a good boy in the matches I have seen him in down here.

Nice defence there Harry, by your own standards any handling is not to be tolerated, but in this case you defend the indefensible ?

Add to that use of family labour to harvest straw off the plot and you may see where some commentators are coming from

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Every match has a strict no handling policy, its covered by the rider "SOP rules apply" And yes, it does alter results, otherwise it would not be worth the effort!Tucking in stubble on the crown? Much more than that! How about carrying chunks of the headland mark and packing low places with them? Importing stones to cover bad spots? Pushing the middle furrows together by hand, the entire length of the plot? Or pulling them apart and pushing them down? Making a nice seam in the crown by pulling a tail fin on edge down the centre by hand? And there is a team situation where one ploughman distracts the steward while his mate adjusts the work!
When in Rome? Ye gods. so x and y are cheating, but that makes it fine for you to as well? really good way of bringing new blood in! How do you think the beginner feels if he has done a good plot only to be shoved down the order by a few cheating handlers.
I am surprised that a ploughman of your standing would post the fact that he cant stand any attempts to enforce the rules, and would like to stifle debate on the subject!

I just get fed up that the loads of ploughing discussions seem to come back to gardening. I like Roy’s quote “you can’t polish a turd...”

 

[arcobob]

I am afraid that as many people become offended by the practice as those who become obsessed with doing it. It is an obsession with both sides of the divide but the problem is that one side holds the moral high ground and depending on whether you condone cheating or not you make your mind up which side is right.

 

[Fergie Ploughman]

Either way, if you plough at National level you can’t garden, so you need to be able to cope without your hands in the soil.

 

[arcobob]

Either way, if you plough at National level you can’t garden, so you need to be able to cope without your hands in the soil.

I have not participated at that level nor been to the Nationals since 2011 but I am frequently reliably informed that the handling situation is rife and getting worse. I never saw it in my time but then I was too busy trying to keep my brain in gear.