Cressy “Mt Joy” farmer Michael Bayles was the only Tasmanian to make the podium at the National Ploughing Championships held on the Mott’s property at Larpent, outside of Colac in Victoria on June 2 and 3.
The Tassie contingent took a truck and a ute loaded with tractors and ploughs over for the event, but Mr Bayles borrowed something “a bit smaller” than the tractor he normally uses on the farm to take part in the reversible competition.
He used the competition reversible two furrow plough purchased by him and his brother Rob (also the National Ploughing Association president) from Norway, and put in consistent good runs as the only Tasmanian in the reversible competition, while fellow teammates Alan Prewer of Carrick, Darryl Berne, Colin Berne and his daughter Samantha Berne, all of Westbury, and Daniel Gladwell of Elliot, put in their best with the conventional ploughs.
Samantha was particularly impressive as the only female among the ploughers and her level of improvement showed with her confidence and the result of her plots.
Michael, who has represented the state close to a dozen times and went to Estonia with Colin Berne in 2017 for the World Titles, said he takes pride in how well he can plough, whether it’s in a competition or at home on the farm.
He recently purchased a smaller tractor that he aims to use in competitions going forward.
“There’s a fair bit of turning and a smaller tractor is easier to maneuver and operate,” he said.
“My plot involved ploughing to a triangle shape which means about 19 furrows in you have to come back to the opening split – there’s a fair bit in it.
“Meanwhile you’re being judged on 10 criteria, including straightness, open split, consistency over the full 100m length, how well your plough turns the grass over, depth according to what’s been requested, and how you roll the plough over at the end of the plot.
“You’ve got three hours to plough the quarter acre plot.”
Supporting the team was an additional five people helping with judging, scrutineering and stewardship – Kathrine Bayles, Emily Gladwell, Chris Williams, Peter Gladwell and Ros Bonner.
Although the Victorian competitors were the strongest in the competition the Tasmanians showed their ploughing skills were also top notch in the wet and slippery conditions, with Prewer finishing in seventh spot on day 1 and Gladwell moving into sixth on day two.
Everyone enjoyed catching up with fellow ploughman from Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia and the dirt was washed off and everyone spruced up for the presentation at the end of the competition.
Daniel Gladwell was presented with the Gordon and Helen McGee Perpetual Trophy as an encouragement award for a Tasmanian competitor – in honour of the late Gordon McGee who was a ploughman from Bishopsbourne.
Next year the Championships will be held in Western Australia for the first time.
The Tasmanian Ploughing Association will hold a meeting on Wednesday, July 26 at Deloraine where they will discuss organising a practice day at Mt Joy and also fundraising to get a team to WA next year.