PLOUGHERS used heavy horses and tractors from past and present in the attempt to create the perfect furrow in Sopley at the weekend.

The South Avon and Stour Agricultural Society held their ploughing match at Sopley Farm in Derritt Lane on Saturday from 9.30pm.

Judges looked for straight, uniform and evenly matched furrows of equal width and even depth with a straight, narrow and shallow finish.

Ploughing matches have been part of life in the countryside for years and in days gone by a champion ploughman could expect a better wage than his fellows.

A sunflower competition was also held on the farm on the same day.

First published: Oct 4