Farming News - Nigel Vickers Crowned Supreme Champion At Diamond Anniversary British National Ploughing Championships
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Nigel Vickers Crowned Supreme Champion At Diamond Anniversary British National Ploughing Championships
More than 230 ploughmen and women competed at Austrey, near Atherstone, Warwickshire, as the British National Ploughing Championships celebrated its 75th anniversary on 10th and 11th October 2026 on land kindly loaned by William Corbett Farms.
Nigel Vickers from Sarn, Malpas, Cheshire, was crowned Supreme Champion with the prestigious title capping a successful weekend of competition, bringing together ploughmen and women from across Great Britain to demonstrate their skill, precision and expertise across 15 classes, covering modern tractor ploughing, classic, vintage and horse ploughing.
Vickers was awarded the Supreme Championship after winning the Conventional Plough-Off Final using a Ford 5030/Kverneland combination with 282 points, 10 points ahead of Simon Witty, an ex-world champion from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and his son, Stuart Vickers in third place with 269 points.
The Reversible Plough-Off Final was one of two which produced a particularly close contest, with Euron Griffith of Pwllheli, Gwynedd, and Peter Alderslade of East Boldon, Tyne and Wear, both achieving 312 points. The countback system determined Griffith, using a New Holland TS90 tractor and Kverneland plough, as the winner, with Alderslade with his Valtra A95 tractor and Kverneland plough taking second place. Michael Chappell of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, finished third with 294 points.
Vintage ploughing provided plenty of competition, when Richard Ingram, from Atherstone, Warwickshire, ploughing with a Massey Ferguson 35 and Ransome TS54, claimed victory in the Vintage Hydraulic Plough-Off Final after a tie on 256 points with Robert Turner of Wigton, Cumbria was resolved using countback. Charlie Nicklin from Congleton, Cheshire was placed third with 247 points.
The reigning European Trailing Ploughing Champion, John Crowder of Sturton by Stow, Lincolnshire, easily won the Vintage Trailing Final with his Fordson N/Ransome RSLD combination with 284 points, followed by David Wood from Coldstream, Berwickshire with 257 points and Andrew Maxfield from Doncaster, South Yorkshire in third place with 252 points.
In the Classic Plough-Off Final, it had been a long time coming for Carl Fretwell of Penistone, South Yorkshire, who first took part in the Championships as a young farmer 36 years ago and has ploughed every year since. Using a David Brown 880 tractor and Ransome TS86 plough, he took first place with 251 points, ahead of Jon Cole from Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with 239 points and Antony Boldan from Goole, East Yorkshire in third place with 234 points. Following his strong performance, Fretwell also earned the title of Overall British Vintage Champion.
Using a Massey Ferguson 35 and Ransome TS81 plough, Timothy Hurley from Pensford, North Somerset won the Classic Reversible Plough-Off Final with 287 points, 20 points ahead of last year's Champion, Graham Sutton from Nuneaton, Warwickshire. One of the youngest competitors in the competition, 15 year old Oliver Gilbert from Chellaston, Derby, came in third place with 254 points.
Other champions included Martin Kerswell of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, who won both horse ploughing classes over the weekend with his Percherons, Pierre and Gringo, and was named British Horse Ploughing Champion. Shaun Garrod of Attleborough, Norfolk, took the Overall High Cut Champion title using a Fordson Dexta and Ransome RSLM and James Chapman from Driffield, East Yorkshire was named Young Farmers Champion, underlining the importance of encouraging young people to develop and maintain the skills involved in this traditional agricultural craft. A total of 26 young men and women took part, competing across several classes with the youngest aged just 15.
The results will also determine England's representatives at forthcoming international competitions in 2027. Peter Alderslade and Nigel Vickers will compete in the World Ploughing Contest in Kenya, while Estonia beckons Michael Chappell and Will Tupper for the European Reversible Championships. John Crowder, Richard Ingram, Carl Fretwell and Timothy Hurley have qualified for the European Vintage Championships in Germany.
Sue Frith, Chief Executive of the organisers, the Society of Ploughmen, said: "The 75th anniversary event celebrated a proud tradition that has seen the British National Ploughing Championships move around Great Britain each year. We've had a fantastic weekend in Austrey with glorious sunshine and lots of spectators and our thanks go to our hosts and our tremendous team of volunteers who ensure the event runs smoothly. The Championships remain an important occasion for the farming community, bringing together competitors, machinery enthusiasts, agricultural businesses and visitors to celebrate the skill, heritage and continuing importance of ploughing."
Alongside the competition, the Country Festival offered visitors the opportunity to enjoy displays and demonstrations of agricultural machinery, steam ploughing engines, vintage tractors - including the spectacular sight of a Chieftain tank ploughing.
The Society of Ploughmen extends its thanks to their sponsors, Bridgestone/Firestone, Cheffins, Dales Agri Sales Agency, Helpful Hirings, Farol, Howkins & Harrison, Milk from the Hills, Oliver Seeds, Startin Tractors, Suttons Agricultural & Transport, Wright Engineering and everyone who helped make the diamond anniversary Championships a memorable celebration of British agriculture and ploughing.
Next year's Championships move to Northumberland when the event will be held at Mindrum Mill, on the borders on 9th & 10th October 2027.