Moray resident becomes first woman to win Moray Ploughing Match at Linkwood Farm

A WOMAN from Moray has made history after winning an annual ploughing match at Linkwood Farm in Elgin on Saturday.

Katie McDonald, from Spey Bay, won the annual Moray Ploughing Match Society event having only taken up ploughing four weeks ago.

It was also just Katie's second ever ploughing match and by winning the event she became the first woman to ever be named overall winner, coming out on top against 35 other competitors.

"I couldn't believe it for a second," Katie said.

"I'd gone hoping that I might get into the top half of my class again but I didn't expect for a million years to win the class or the overall.

"I'm proud to be the first female to have won the overall at Moray and couldn't believe when they told me it was the first win from the multi-furrow class too."

Both of Katie's grandads were ploughman. Her uncles, Willie McDonald and Graeme Mutch, have also won ploughing matches and Katie's cousin competes as well.

But despite always having an interest in the event, it wasn't until her uncle Willie asked if she would like to give it a go this year that Katie decided to compete herself.

"I'm really pleased, Katie added. "It's credit to how my uncle has been able to teach me and make something of it with me.

"I'm more happy to have been able to make him proud really.

"I wasn't sure about doing it but everyone's been so welcoming and encouraging and happy to give advice.

"If there was anyone else who was thinking about having a go I would definitely encourage them to.

"It was just a lot of good luck and things lining up on the day. I don't think I'll ever manage to repeat that.

"I can't believe that my name is going to be on there with them (Katie's uncles who also won the event)."

Other trophy winners

Class 1: Agrovista Cup

1st M Skea

2nd G Hepburn

Class 2: Bowlts Chartered Surveyors Trophy

1st R Macdonald

2nd A Davidson

3rd A Senic

Moray Estates Prize: A Simpson

DIAGEO Trophy

1st S Alexander

2nd C Forbes

3rd D Towns

Moray Estates Prize: C Forbes

Classic: Ian Mchattie Trophy

1st C Forbes

2nd D Towns

3rd G Gilbert

Class 4: Pentland Landrover Trophy

1st K McDonald

2nd R Robertson

3rd J Morrison

Moray Estates Prize: K McDonald

Moray Estates Junior Trophy

Speyside Farrier Sponsored Class

1st A Stevenson

2nd K Grieve

3rd K Milne

Class 5 Vintage Trailing: Gleaner Oils Trophy

1st D Stewart

2nd D Clarihew

3rd J Donald

Moray Estates Prize: D Clarihew

Demonstrators

1st F Durno, Ravenhill

2nd C Calder Sellars

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