A TALENTED farmer has brought top honours to Teesdale by winning the European vintage ploughing championships, writes Sheila Dixon.
Mr Ray Alderson, of Quarry Grange Farm, Bolam, won the title with a 1941 Fordson tractor and Ransome trailer plough, which he thinks was originally built in the 30s. The tractor has always been on the farm, but the plough was restored from others that had been scrapped.
Mr Alderson featured in the D&S Times this time last year when he won the vintage section in the British ploughing championships for the second year running. His success there qualified him for the European, which was held at Marden in Kent. It featured 18 competitors from nine countries.
The quality of the work was judged on a points system.
Mr Alderson, aged 43, is a member of the Society of Ploughmen and has been competing since his Young Farmers' Club days
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