South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 2 September 1843, page 2


PLOUGHING MATCH AT THEBARTON

The anxiously looked-for ploughing match took place yesterday morning at Thebarton, on the section of Mr Lovelock, near the Market-house. The day was most favourable, and a large con-

course of spectators, from town and country, were assembled to witness this novel and interesting sight. The umpires appointed to judge the work were Messrs Hamilton, Smith, and Stark, and the prizes five in. number—first £7, second £4, and so on regularly decreasing. Twelve ploughs were entered, and the names of the ploughmen who competed for the prizes are—James Nottage, farmer; William Bowman, farmer, Reed-beds; Alexander Connel, servant to Messrs White and Rankine, Mount Marker; William Cooke, servant to W. Cooke, farmer, Hindmarsh; Robert Smith, son of W. Smith, farmer, Hentfield; John Bowey, servant to C H. Wearing, Greenhill Creek; John Waddel, blacksmith and farmer, Adelaide; James Umphastone, farmer, on the Sturt; John Stacy, servant to C. B. Fisher, farmer, Reedbeds; Thomas Gemmel, servant to William Fergusson, Mackgill; James Harkness, farmer, Graham Hall; Benjamin Greig, servant to James Frew, farmer, Fullarton. It was arranged by the Association that halfan-acre of ground should be marked out for each man. The prizes to be awarded to the straightest and best laid-over furrows of a certain depth. The twelve ploughs started at about ten o'clock a.m., and finished their work at a quarter past two p.m. The umpires then went over the ground, and after taking a careful and patient survey of the different lands, awarded, through James Frew, Esq., the first prize to J. Harkness, second to It. Smith, third to J. Stacy, fourth to J. Brown, and fifth to W. Bowman. Mr Frew, on giving out the names of the winners, said that the prizes would be distributed after dinner, which was to be given at Mr Payne's, Australian Arms, at six o'clock. About seventy gentlemen, we understand, sat down fo dinner, and what was begun so well in the morning, was finished equally well in the evening.