Two of England’s top ploughmen are preparing to travel to the USA later this month to compete in the 2019 World Ploughing Contest.
Competitors will be travelling from 28 countries to take part – from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Kenya and Russia.
David Chappell from Hatfield Woodhouse, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire is the current British Conventional Ploughing Champion and Supreme British Champion.
Peter Alderslade, from East Bolden, Tyne and Wear, is the current British Reversible Ploughing Champion.
Both are well aware as to what the judges will be looking for as this will be the 7th attempt at the titles by both ploughmen.
In fact, this is the fourth time the two have been team-mates, having competed in 2014 (France), 2015 (Denmark) and 2016 (England).
The Brits have the skills required to beat their previous bests of 4th overall but they will have some tough competition from the other countries where entries include past World Champions.
The World Contest will be held on 30th and 31st August on land at Baudette, Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.
They have shipped their own tractors and ploughs out to the USA to help them to compete at the highest level - Peter uses a Valtra tractor and Kverneland plough and David uses a Massey Ferguson tractor and Kverneland plough.
Completing the team and judging for England is farmer Vivian Samuel from Herefordshire who has been both a ploughman and a judge in past contests.
He won the World Ploughing Champion title in New Zealand in 1980.
Vivian will also act as team coach prior to the contest to try and help both ploughmen in their bid for world honours.
After their experience of ploughing on foreign soil, David and Peter’s tractors and ploughs will be shipped back to the UK, ready for them to compete in this year’s British National Ploughing Championships.
Both will be striving to retain their titles and win a place at the 2020 World Ploughing Contest to be held in the Russia.
