Britain’s top ploughing talent gathered in the West Midlands recently for the 74th British National Ploughing Championships, a celebration of tradition, skill, and rural excellence. Held near Allesley, Coventry by kind permission of the Brandreth Family and Sir Thomas White’s Charity, the event brought together over 230 competitors from across the country.

Set with a backdrop of rolling fields, the event saw two days of spirited competition despite mixed weather.   It was a clear, fine day on Saturday but thick, patchy fog throughout the day on the Sunday hindered competitors with some struggling to see their sighting poles which guide them to plough their opening furrow straight!

The coveted Supreme Champion title was awarded to Ashley Boyles from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, using a Case IH CX90 tractor and Kverneland plough.  Mr Boyles also took the British Reversible title, competing in this section the first time, having won the Conventional title four times previously.  With 356 points, he was 24 points ahead of last year’s Reversible Champion, Ian Brewer from Cornwall.  Young Farmer, Euron Griffith from Pwllheli took third place.

It was a case of family clashes for the top places in the British Conventional Plough-Off Final.  Nigel Vickers from Sarn, near Malpas, Cheshire won the title with 277 points, just two points ahead of his son, Stuart.  Both plough with Ford 5030 tractors and Kverneland ploughs.  Third place was Simon Witty from Filey, North Yorkshire who finished with 273 points, exactly the same as his brother James, who is the current World Conventional Ploughing Champion.  However, a ‘countback’ system awarded third place to Simon.

The event also featured four Vintage Plough-Off Finals, with four defending champions each retaining their respective titles.  The Vintage Trailed Final was won easily by John Crowder from Sturton-by-Stow, Lincolnshire using a Fordson N and Ransome RLSD Major plough, scoring 272 points. David Wood from Coldstream, Berwickshire was second with 260 points and John Milnes of South Yorkshire came third, just three points behind.

Richard Ingram from Atherstone, Warwickshire effortlessly regained the British Vintage Hydraulic title.  Using a Massey Ferguson 35 and Ransome TS54, he finished with 269 points and a 26 point lead in front of Alex Evans from Carlisle, Cumbria.  Charlie Nicklin from Congleton, Cheshire was just 4 points behind in third place.

The British Classic Championship title was a repeat win for Jon Cole, from Whitchurch, Herefordshire, with 271 points using a Nuffield 10/42 and Ransome TS86 plough.  Sixteen points behind was runner-up, Ray Alderson from Darlington, Co Durham and third place went to Carl Fretwell from Penistone, South Yorkshire.

The Classic Reversible Final victory went to Graham Sutton, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire with 291 points, using a Massey Ferguson 65 and Ransome TS82.  Timothy Hurley from Bristol was 9 points behind in second place and third place went to Neil Ramsay from Earlston, Berwickshire.

The Overall Horse Ploughing Champion title was once again won by Martin Kerswell from Fordingbridge, Hampshire with his majestic Percherons, Pierre and Gringo; and 22-year old Will Marshall from Doncaster, South Yorkshire became the Overall Young Farmers Champion for the second year in a row, ploughing in the conventional class.  Shaun Garrod from Attleborough, Norfolk won the title of Overall High Cut Champion.

Alongside the competitions, visitors were treated to an array of trade stands, vintage tractor and machinery displays, two pairs of steam ploughing engines and a Chieftain tank giving noisy, but very popular, demonstrations of ploughing!

Stephen Cheeseman, Chairman of the Society of Ploughmen, which organised the Championships, commented:  “The Championships are supported by ploughmen and women from all corners of the country.  Our dedicated volunteers and supporters helped create another fantastic event and we are incredibly grateful to the Brandreth Family and Sir Thomas White’s Charity for allowing us to use such a fantastic site.”

Main sponsors Bridgestone/Firestone were joined by AR Demolition, Cheffins, Dales Agri Sales Agency, Farol, Farmers Guardian, Helpful Hirings, Startin Tractors and Suttons Agricultural Transport in supporting this major rural event.

Full results and photos are available at www.ploughmen.co.uk.

The 75th British National Ploughing Championships will be celebrated on 10th & 11th October 2026 at Austrey, near Atherstone, Warwickshire, by kind permission of William Corbett Farms Ltd.