Craven Arms Farm Contractor Colin Bowen crowned British National Ploughing Champion (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Craven Arms Farm Contractor Colin Bowen crowned British National Ploughing Champion

8:30am Monday 22nd November 2010 in Farming

CRAVEN Arms Farm Contractor Colin Bowen is the new British National Ploughing Champion, his victory earning him a trip to Sweden next May to represent England in the 2011 World Ploughing Contest.

Colin won the title at the 60th British National Ploughing Championships, held on October 9 and 10 at Grange-de- Lings, near Lincoln.

It is the second time he has won the title, his victory in 2009 taking him to compete in the world ploughing contest in New Zealand in April 2010 where he finished 7th overall and gained a bronze medal for finishing 3rd in the grassland section.

The competition takes place over two days and attracts the best ploughmen from all over the country.

Colin’s victory on the first day was a close contest, with former champion Peter Alderslade from Tyne & Wear just eight points behind as both men struggled to master the difficult soil conditions, though they were both clear of the rest of the field.

The final on Sunday was a different matter with Colin taking complete control of the contest, earning 285 points and comfortably holding off the challenge from Peter Alderslade, who finished second with 266 points. Third place was Ian Brewer from Cornwall with 255 points.

Colin’s son Steven finished in 7th place, having just returned from representing England in the European Reversible Ploughing Championships in the Republic of Ireland.