British Ploughing Championships set for the Chatsworth Estate

The Chatsworth Estate will host this years’ British National Ploughing Championships & Country Festival next month.

More than 240 ploughmen and women will take part in the event, which takes place on 8-9 October. The venue is Glapwell, north-east Derbyshire by kind permission of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

The top 10 reversible and conventional ploughers from the first day will compete in a ‘Plough-Off’ Final on the second day, hoping to win the title and a place to represent England in next year’s World or European Championships.

The top 10 competitors in the vintage trailed, hydraulic, classic and classic reversible classes will again win a place in the ‘Plough-Off’ Finals to win the title and hopefully a place to compete in the 2023 European Vintage Ploughing Championships.

There will also be classes for the stylish high-cut tractor ploughing, crawler tractors, horticultural, Ferguson, Ford & Fordson and David Brown. Some 28 pairs of heavy horses have been entered in the general purpose and high-cut ploughing classes.

The latest agricultural machinery for sale will be demonstrated in the working area. Four steam ploughing engines, each with a cable running a ride-on plough between two engines weighing 20 tonnes, will also be on show. 

The Fowler BB1 engines – Aries and Libra – will be travelling all the way from County Durham with Stephen and Anne Kearton. Another pair – Tiger and Lion – are based locally at Ashover, courtesy of Marriott Drilling.

Society of Ploughmen chief executive Sue Frith said:

“This is the first time in 71 years the event has ever been held in Derbyshire – and it couldn’t be on a better venue than the Chatsworth Estate.”

The 100ha (250-acre) site is only a few minutes from junction 29 on the M1. Alongside the ploughing competitions, visitors will be able to shop and browse in the trade stand and shopping area and craft marquee.

For full details and tickets, please visit www.ploughmen.co.uk