Thanks to the National Library of New Zealand

PAPERS PAST - EVENING POST - 12th OCTOBER 1876
(Capital surnames are mine for effect)

The ploughing match held yesterday in Mr. MABEY's paddocks, Taita, passed off with entire success. Nine competitors were on the ground, and should have started at half-past 9 o'clock, but owing to a mistake made by one of the competitors in setting out his first furrow, which he carried into his neighbour's ground, a fresh start had to be made, which did not take place until 10am. Each man had to plough 853 links by 58 & half links into divisions, with an equal number of furrows on each side, depth not less than 5 inches. The ploughmen finish as under :-

S. RUSSELL . . . 12.21pm
R. RUSSELL . . . 12.46pm
WRIGHT . . . . . 1.18pm
WATERMAN . . . . 1.19pm
APPS . . . . . . 1.27pm
PHILLIPS . . . . 1.56pm
COLSON . . . . . 1.58pm
STENT . . . . . . 2.10pm
PIKE . . . . . . 2.44pm

The following is the prize-list, the description of plough used by each competitor being also given :-

PHILLIPS, first prize, double-wheeled Howard

STENT, second prize, double-wheeled Howard;

WATERMAN, third prize, double-wheeled Howard;

W. RUSSELL (who took fourth prize for being the first to finish), single-wheeled Howard;

WRIGHT, single-wheeled by McIlvride; COLSON, single-wheeled by Hornby;

PIKE (last to finish), swing plough by Murreny;

APPS (presented with a whip as at the bottom of the poll as to merit), single wheeled Howard.

It is worthy of notice that the best work therefore was done with double-wheeled Howard ploughs, the quickest with single-wheeled Howard's, and the slowest with a swing plough. Subsequently a scratch match was arranged for three young ploughmen,
resulting in MABEY taking 1st prize, DAYSH 2nd, COOPER 3rd.

While the ploughing was going on sports were held in an adjacent paddock. In the men's races, 200 yarda and 100 yards, HOOPER was 1st. and JUDD 2nd.

In the boys' races, at 200 yards, WREN was 1st, and PARKER 2nd; in the 100 yards, LOCKETT 1st, and BOULCOTT 2nd.

Six lady competitors ran a race for a box of tea, which was won by Mrs. WEBB, who also won the 100 yards female races, Mrs. PECK being 2nd.

In the girls' race, Miss DEATH was 1st, and Miss DEW 2nd.

Mr. VALENTINE won the quoit match, Mr. W. CUDBY being 2nd.

Then there was a baby show, in which six babies competed, EDWARDS jnr, being 1st and EVITT 2nd.

Altogether a very amusing day's sport was enjoyed