DEBBIE Watson aims to create many a furrowed brow in the male-dominated world of ploughing.

The 17-year-old farmer's daughter is the only female competing in the forthcoming British National Ploughing Championships, near York.

It is Debbie's second time in the event - last year she was fifth out of 13 in her section.

She said: "There were two of us last year, the other woman was in the horse ploughing classes, but this year I'm the only female."

Debbie has been ploughing since she was 13 and has won ten first certificates, including one when she beat a former European champion.

She said: "The men were a bit iffy at first - especially in Scotland - but I have beaten quite a few of them since then and they now treat me like one of them."

Debbie, who works on her parents Bingfield Farm, at Hallington, near Newcastle, competes using her own vintage MF35 tractor, which she bought from a family friend for £1,100.

Her family's farm has cattle, sheep and 60 acres of arable land, so most of her ploughing practice is done during weekend competitions both here and in Scotland.

She said she seems to have a natural eye for the skill, adding: "Ploughing straight furrows is the most important thing. Bad ploughing straight is better than good ploughing wonky."

She will compete in the trailed plough section in the championships, which are expected to attract 15,000 spectators to Crockey Hill, south of York, on the weekend of October 13 and 14.

Debbie, who normally finds competitors have much larger, more powerful tractors and ploughs, is one of 26 battling it out for the title of British Young Farmer's Champion Ploughman on the first day.

If successful, she will join other top qualifiers on the second day competing to represent England at the 2008 World Ploughing Contest to be held in Austria.

She said: "I nearly fainted last year I was so nervous, but I am looking forward to competing."

The competition includes modern tractors and ploughs, as well as vintage and horse-drawn equipment, and there will be working demonstrations, trade stands, and rural arts and crafts.

The event takes place at Wheldrake Lane, off the A19 York to Selby road, and will be signposted from major roads in the area. Gates open at 9am each day