The British National Ploughing Championships and Country Festival is returning to Warwickshire after a break of 52 years.

This unique event moves around the UK each year and it was last held near to the Royal Showground at Stoneleigh in 1966.

This year it will be held at Austrey, near Atherstone on October 13-14.

South West Farmer:

Photo: Ian Brewer

The Society of Ploughmen expect around 230 or more local champions from the length and breadth of the country to take part over the two days.

The ploughing classes include ‘world style’ conventional and reversible; vintage trailing, hydraulic, classic and high cut; classes for Ferguson, David Brown and Ford tractors; horticultural, crawlers and magnificent heavy horses.

South West Farmer:

The top ten ploughmen or women from the first day’s ploughing in the reversible, conventional, vintage trailed, hydraulic and classic classes will qualify to take part in their own ‘Plough-Off Final’ on the second day.

From these a Supreme Champion of Great Britain will be judged and the Finals will also find the representatives for England who will go on to represent their country in 2019 international ploughing events. This will either be the World Ploughing Contest in USA, the European Reversible Ploughing Championships in the Republic of Ireland or the European Vintage Ploughing Championships in Scotland.

South West Farmer:

Photo: Mick Chappell

The event attracts a unique mix of visitors – farmers and those working in agriculture; vintage enthusiasts and tractor collectors; steam enthusiasts, heavy horse enthusiasts, people with a love of the countryside and people who want to learn more about the land and our farming heritage.

This year visitors will also be able to see the unique “Great Steam Ploughing Challenge”.

South West Farmer:

The Great Steam Challenge is organised by the Steam Plough Club and will cover around 60 acres of the 250 acre site.

More than 20 engines will be taking part in a competition over the two days to find the best work done by these giants of the past.