NORTH Yorkshire farmer John Metcalfe has ploughed a lot of hard work into his beloved hobby. He has been loyal to it for 60 years without a break and has no intention of giving it up just yet.

For the 74-year-old grandfather-of-six, who has worked the arable family farm at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, since being a lad, just loves to compete in tractor-ploughing competitions.

Since entering his first competition at the age of 14, Mr Metcalfe has bagged about 350 to 400 first prizes.

But he says he has never yet ploughed a field as well as he knows he can.

"It's funny but you always plough your best either during a practice run or out in your own field," he told the D&S Times. "As soon as lots of people are watching you it is different and everything can go wrong. I've spoken to others and they all feel the same way."

However, he refuses to let anything or anyone get in his way.

For the past 60 years he has ploughed his way to the top in both local, national and international competitions.

Even two replacement hip operations were timed so as not to interfere with competition schedules.

His passion for the sport began in 1940 when he entered his first competition using his father's blue standard Fordson tractor and Ransome motrack plough.

Sixty years on, he now owns a four-wheel drive Kubota tractor, modified to accommodate his mobility problems. But he still remains loyal to the English Ransome plough.

As a member of the British Ploughing Association in 1947, he entered the first ever Empire match at Scose Farm, Workington, but failed to stir the judges.

Three years later he took first prize in his class.

That same year the first British national championships were held at Tadcaster, followed two years later by national championships in Scotland which attracted 150-200 competitors.

In 1953 the first world championships were held in Ontario, Canada, and Mr Metcalfe attended as coach to East Harlsey farmer Mr Reg Hogg.

"Reg was a horse ploughman, but there were no horses allowed in the world match," Mr Metcalfe said. "Knowing I was a tractor ploughman he asked me to go with him as his coach.

"It was a fantastic event with farmers from all over Europe and Canada there. We all had a great time."

Mr Metcalfe married his wife, Pamela, in 1955 and for the next 15 years concentrated mainly on family life but still attended as many local ploughing matches as he could.

In 1970, he won the British national championships at Doncaster followed the next year by the world champinships in Taunton, Somerset.

That year the British Ploughing Association changed its name to the Society of Ploughmen.

Throughout the 70s and 80s he continued to enjoy success at every local event and during his spare time managed to judge eight national competitions and two international championships.

But he never let the lack of his own national crown get him down.

"I couldn't beat them but I believed I could wear them all down," he said. "But joking aside it will only be an elite few that will be still carrying on now.

"I know I am one of the oldest competitors. There may be some older but they will not have been at it every year like me."

As well as competing almost every weekend in matches all over the country, Mr Metcalfe is also on the organising committee for world championship matches when they come to England and a senior member director of the Society of Ploughmen.

Four weeks ago the world championship match and British national championships were held within days of each other in Lincoln. Mr Metcalfe was among a decreasing loyal band of ploughmen who size up and plot out over 500 acres of grassland and stubble land for both events.

"Eighteen months ago we lost 80pc of our sponsorship due to the deepening agricultural crisis.

"But to make up for it some companies gave their time free and the competition managed to go ahead.

"A lot of people don't realise the hard work that goes into organising these competitions. There are many times when you feel the whole thing is going to break down. But thankfully it never does."

Tomorrow he will pack up his tractor and plough and set off for Barton on Humber and probably another first prize.

"I just love to be on my tractor ploughing," he added. "There is no feeling like it in the world. I enjoy it just as much now as when I was a young man."

As for his wife, son Michael and daughters Karen and Jane, they will wish him good luck and, shaking their heads, wave him goodbye - wondering what all the fuss is about