Veterans battle it out among the furrows at Cheshire ploughing match

Competitors travelled from miles around to take part despite the forecast of thunderstorms.

Two veterans, who have been regulars for years, battled it out among the furrows.

Keith Atkinson competing (Image: John Williams)

Close pals Graham Cooper, 85, from Tideswell and Keith Atkinson, 81, from Barton near Preston, joined enthusiasts to nearly turn over the freshly harvested fields off Station Road.

Vintage tractor-drawn ploughs from miles around took part in the match (Image: John Williams)

Only hours before the early morning start, heavy rain was predicted. 

Fortunately, the weather held out until after the event.

Allan Shallcroft, a dairy farmer from Kingsley, with Midge, his wire Fox Terrier (Image: John Williams)

Graham and Keith were full of praise for the condition of the ground which was not too hard or soggy for the ploughmen.

From left, farmers John Peake, from Sandbach, Martyn Wright, from Middlewich, and Rick Wharfe, from Goostrey (Image: John Williams)

Graham said: "We love coming to Goostrey every year and nowhere is a match on here.

"The ground was lovely and dry to plough."

Ted Moston, two, with mum Charlie, on his dad's Fordson tractor (Image: John Williams)

The pair have been driving tractors on family farms since they could reach the pedals.

Keith, also an engineer, is credited, with converting the first little grey Fergie tractor to electric which he has used at other matches.

Elderly tractors and ploughs were trailered home afterwards to farms and holdings in Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and North Wales.

The gentle phut-phut of vintage tractors filled the air (Image: John Williams)

For the first time this year, the competition sadly had no entries in the junior section due to strict regulations on the age children are allowed on a tractor even on private property.

Youngsters in farming families have to wait until they are 13 before being allowed on a tractor.

Points are awarded for straightness and neatness of the resulting furrows (Image: John Williams)

To take a test for a tractor licence, teenagers have to be 16 before they are permitted to drive on the road for the first time to the testing area.

Now the Vintage Tractor and Engine Club is launching a campaign to encourage more young people to get involved in tractors and the annual ploughing match.

Trenches cut by the plough are called furrows (Image: John Williams)

Organiser Phil Moston, from Twemlow, said: " We were disappointed to have no junior class between the ages of 13 and 16 this year for the first time.

“We are trying to get youngsters interested but it is difficult and we want to get them involved if we can.”

Farmers praised the condition of the ground in Goostrey (Image: John Williams)

Organisers were pleased overall with the match but entries were slightly down because the previous day's fine sunshine provided many farms with a window for harvesting before the predicted bad weather.