On Thursday 2nd November, 1911, the North Kent Agricultural Association Ploughing Match was held at Littlebrook Farm, Dartford, by kind permission of Mr Thomas Peerless.
There were 94 ploughs entered (compared with 87 in 1910) and they were all in the field by 7am, and at 8am they started their work of turning half an acre each, and the work had to be completed by 12pm. All ploughmen and drivers competing in the competition were given a woollen Guernsey, which probably made a useful addition to the winter wardrobe.
All the classes saw an increase in entries from 1910. The Roots classes had 237 entries, 32 entries in Corn, 37 in Fruit and 37 in Hops. There were also twenty trade stands, including: Drake & Fletcher (Maidstone); H.S. Tett & Co Ltd (Sittingbourne & Faversham); Mr D. L. Pattulo (Orpington) showing potatoes; Day & Knight (Maidstone) showing animal medicines, and Molassine Co. (Greenwich).
During the day there were Military Displays in a special enclosure by Non-Commissioned Officers of the Riding Establishment, Royal Horse Artillery, Woolwich, and there followed some horse jumping competitions which proved very popular.
The event itself was organised by a large Committee, the Hon. Secretary was Mr Charles Hind assisted by Mr. E. Ingman. The prizes were presented by Mrs Peerless.
The traditional dinner was cancelled out of respect to the memory of the late Mr John Russell. Mr Russell had died in August 1911 and had been Chairman of the Association for many years.
Ploughing categories
Champion Turnrise Ploughs
Ordinary Turnrise Ploughs
Champion Iron Balance Ploughs or other Iron One-way Ploughs
Ordinary Iron Balance Ploughs or other Iron One-way Ploughs
Three Horse Abreast Iron Balance Ploughs or other Iron One-way Ploughs (without drivers) – 1st J. Hopkins with Messrs Cannon & Rogers, Horton Kirby
Champion Iron Ploughs
Ordinary Iron Ploughs – 2nd prize Alf. A. Elliott with Mr J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Three Horse Abreast Iron Ploughs (without drivers) – 3rd prize E. Timms, with Messrs Cannon & Rogers, Horton Kirby
Two Horse Iron Ploughs (without drivers) – 1st prize J. Carcary, with Mr. J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Long Service Awards
An English silver watch was offered by Mr John Wood, Crockenhill, Swanley, to the ploughman over 35 years of age who had been the longest in the employee of the same master.
Winner – David Munns, aged 42, 23 years with Mr J. Brann, Chalk
An English silver watch was offered by Mr W. Foot Mitchell, J.P. to the ploughman under 35 years of age who had been the longest in the employee of the same master.
Winner – George Clements, with Mr W. J. H. McCall, Bexley Heath Asylum, 7 years, 9 months service.
An English silver watch presented by the London Sack & Basket Co. Ltd., Peckham, to the employee who has been in the service of the same master or on the same farm, without intermission.
Winner – Richard Simms, aged 75, with Mr. H. C. Stanles, Swanley – 66 years service.
Special Classes
For Farmers, farmers’ sons or farm pupils with an iron balance or other iron one-way plough
Silver Cup (value 5 guineas) offered by Mr A. M. Fleet, J.P. – won by Harry Redsell, Singlewell
2nd Prize (value 3 guineas) offered by Mr. Philip Champion – won by Thomas Greenless, Borden, Sittingbourne
Special prizes of £1 5s each awarded by Mr. F.R.Stoneham for the best piece of work with a turnrise plough, iron or wood, and for the best piece of wood done with an iron run round plough
W. T. Blake with Mr E J Allen, Wilmington, with an iron balance plough
T. Ager with Mr Peerless, with an iron run round plough
Special prizes of two English Silver watches awarded by Mrs Stoneham, one each to the oldest and youngest ploughman who receives a prize, and who must have been in the same employ not less than two years
Richard Atkins (aged 51, oldest) with Mr H. B. Hohler, Fawkham
Harry Hales (aged 22, youngest) with Mr J. H. Hales, Singlewell
Special prizes of 1 guinea each by Mr. R. Tickle, for the best “setting in”, “breaking out” and finsiing last furrow in both the run round and the one-way classes.
J. Davine, with Mr R. R. Berens, with a run-round plough
W. T. Blake with Mr E. J. Allen, Wilmington, with a one-way plough
Challenge Cups
A Silver Challenge Cup (value 5 guineas) presented to the Association by Mr W. Foot Mitchell, J.P., for the best piece of ploughing in the field
Winner – Thomas Ager with Mr. T. Peerless, Dartford
The John Russell Memorial Challenge Cup and added prize, presented to the Association by Mrs F.N. Kidd (daughter of the late Mr John Russell). The Employer received the Cup and the employee received 4 guineas.
Winner – Thomas Ager with Mr. T. Peerless, Dartford
Harnesses & Horses
Three horse team – best kept harness (cash prizes)
Two horse team – best kept harness (cash prizes)
Best groomed horses (waggoners whips awarded by Mrs Stoneham) for three and two horse teams
Two horse team – J. Carcary, with Mr J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Shepherds – the shepherd having the management of an entire flock of over 100 ewes, who has reared the greatest number of lambs in proportion to the number of ewes put to ram, under his daily management and care – 2 guineas presented by the West Kent Hunt. Winner –
Straw Binding (prizes by Messrs Dann & Lucas, Dartford)
Jumping
Roots
Mangels, Long Red, upland grown: 1st prize – G. Woolgar, South Darenth
Mangel, Yellow Global
Mangel – any other variety: 3rd prize – G. Woolgar, South Darenth
Swedes
Turnips
Cattle Cabbage
Kohl rabi
Beetroot
Parsnips
Carrots
Onions: 1st prize – P. Palmer, Horton Kirby
Potatoes
Cabbage – Brussels Sprouts
Voitch’s Autumn Giant Cauliflower
Coleworts
Market Cabbage
Messrs. James Carter & Co.’s prizes: Mangel : P. Palmer, Horton Kirby; Swedes
Messrs. Joseph Fison & Co.’s (Ipswich) prizes for Fertilisers
Messrs. R & H Strickland’s (Dartford) prizes for: Brussels Sprouts grown with their Poudrette manure; Potatoes grown with their Poudrette manure; Cauliflowers grown with their Poudrette manure – 1st prize (1 guinea) J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Messrs. Sutton & Sons prizes: Mangels; Swedes
Messrs. E. Webb & Sons prizes: Swedes; Mangels
Mr David L. Pattullo, Potato Merchant & Grower, Orpington presented a prize:
For the best grown 20 specimen tubers of potatoes from seed supplied by him direct from Scotland during seasons, viz 1909-10, 1910-11 – Mr Boorman, Woking
Special 1 guinea prize for the best 12 roots of any variety of mangels
Special 1 guinea prize for the best 12 roots of any variety of swedes
Special 1 guinea prize for the best half-sieve of Brussels Sprouts
Special 1 guinea prize for the six heads of cauliflower
Corn – classes for White Wheat, Red Wheat, Malting Barley, Any Other Variety, White Oats, Black Oats, Winter Oats
Fruit
Market Growers – six trays of Culinary Apples (distinct varieties), Six trays of desert apples (distinct), Six trays of pears (distinct)
The best and heaviest collection of 12 culinary apples of one variety – 1st prize (1 guinea) J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Twelve desert apples of one variety – 1st prize (1 guinea) J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Best collection of apples not exceeding 12 varieties – 1st prize (2 guineas) J. Langlands, Sutton at Hone
Best collection of outdoor and indoor fruit, not exceeding 12 varieties
Hops
Silver Cup (value 5 guineas) presented by Mr. E. Allen
Silver Cup (value 3 guineas) presented by Lord Tredegar
The hop dryer whose master produced the best managed sample of hops of his drying
Please note that generally only Sutton at Hone, Hawley, South Darenth and Horton Kirby prize winners have been listed.