Moray farmer takes championship win
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A MORAY ploughman has been crowned the best in his field for the fourth year in a row.
Raymond Middleton took victory in the classic reversible class at the Scottish Ploughing Championships, held in St Monans in Fife at the end of October.
It is the eighth time the 57-year-old had taken the national title and a surprise came when he was also named winner of the Ransom Trophy for the best work done with a Ransom plough – defeating around 60 other competitors.
Raymond, who farms for Pitgaveny Farms at Gordonsward Farm, near Elgin, also won a special prize for the best work done with a Massey Ferguson.
"That really put the icing on the cake," he said.
Despite his national victory, Raymond narrowly missed out on his third successive win in the European Vintage Ploughing Championships, which took place at the same venue.
He will try and take the title back next year, having qualified for the European event to be held in Denmark in 2020.
Raymond started ploughing when he was 23 in the Howe o’ the Mearns and moved to Moray in 1990. He is now a member of the Moray Ploughing Match committee and on the executive committee of the Scottish Ploughing Championships.
He thanked Graham Mutch Transport, from Elgin, for his sponsorship.
Next year's Scottish Championships are due to take place in Prestwick before the national event plays out at Mr Middleton's home farm of Pitgaveny in 2021.
