Annual Petworth Farm competition winners


This year classes have been judged by representatives from the Cranleigh & South Eastern Agricultural Society who have spent several days visiting farms and had the difficult job of separating so many well managed crops and farms.
The mild winter and favourable weather in 2014 presented excellent conditions for crops and has given the area’s farmers the opportunity to present excellent looking crops full of potential making it extremely difficult for the judges to separate the entries.
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Hide AdJudge Peter Knight commented: “After many years of judging this has been the most difficult competition I have had to judge due to the outstanding quality of all the entries.”
Top winners were Clive Stickland from Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green, and Richard & Mark Chandler from Moor Farm, Petworth.
Clive was declared to have the best farm under 500 acres by judges Peter Knight and Mervyn Flux.
They were not only impressed by the high standard of the farming but in particular Clive’s knowledge of business costings and margins.
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Hide AdPeter went on to comment: “Clive clearly bases all decisions around sound financial information and this enables him to push his business forward on a sound and profitable footing.”
Richard and Mark Chandler were awarded first prize in the best farm over 500 acres competition and also declared the overall champion farm. The judges stated that: “Richard and Mark impressed with the outstanding quality of crops across a very large acreage and diverse soil types.
“This is combined with diversification into enterprises which complement the landscape and improve habitat for all wildlife across the farm.”
Peter was also impressed with the level of investment taking place showing commitment to farming for the long term.
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Hide AdG Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth is currently run by Richard Chandler and his son Mark and pictured is the team standing in front of their new 1,800 tonne grainstore full of ‘Gallant’ milling wheat.
Richard and Mark farm around 3,500 acres of combinable crops in the Petworth area using a mixture of minimum tillage and zero tillage techniques with a team of three full-time staff.
Crops are grown for quality markets such as bread and biscuit making wheat, all of which are stored at the various farms they manage including a new 1,800 tonne grainstore at Moor Farm, Petworth where the business is centred.
The farm backed up their ‘Best Farm’ prize with a good harvest and are now enjoying the dry weather in September to make another excellent start sowing next years crops.
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Hide AdRichard and Mark also farm with a strong environmental emphasis and have been particularly pleased with the rise in farmland bird numbers this year.
Prizes will be awarded at the PDAA’s annual Ploughing Match that will be held on Saturday September 27 at Malham Farm, Wisborough Green by kind permission of Mr C Wates.
The association hopes for a repeat of the spectacular weather enjoyed on plough match days in recent years.
Around 50 ploughmen are expected to compete on the site including a large turnout of vintage and classic machinery.
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Hide AdAdmission is free and spectators are welcome with ploughing commencing at 9am followed by the annual luncheon and prize giving.
Summary of Results
Class 1 – Ley sown on 1st January 2011 or before:
1st - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
2nd - B Dallyn & Son, Strood Farm, Petworth
3rd - D H Tupper Farms, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
Class 2 – Ley sown between 1st January 2011 & 31st December 2012:
1st - J C Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham
2nd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
3rd - D H Tupper Farms, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
Class 3 – Ley sown since 1st January 2013
1st - J C Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham
2nd - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford
3rd- P Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley
Class 5 – Best Crop of Hard Wheat
1st - J Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham
2nd - N Moss, River Park Farm, Lodsworth
3rd - J Giffin, Leconfield Estate, Petworth
Class 6 – Best Crop of Soft Wheat
1st - C Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
2nd - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth
3rd - J Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford
Class 7 – Best Crop of Spring Wheat
1st - R Perry, Netherlands Farm, Halfway Bridge
2nd - R Comber, Manor Farm, Heyshott
Class 9 – Best Crop of Spring Barley
1st - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
2nd - J Giffin, Leconfield Estate, Petworth
3rd - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor
Class 10 – Best Crop of Winter Oats
1st - C Wates, Malham Farm, Wisborough Green
2nd - R Green, Mitchell Park Farm, Northchapel
3rd - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham
Class 10a – Best Crop of Spring Oats
1st - N Moss, River Park Farm, Lodsworth
2nd - S Carter, Headfoldswood Farm, Loxwood
Class 11 – Best Crop of Winter Barley
1st - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor
2nd - S Carter, Headfoldswood Farm, Loxwood
3rd - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth
Class 12 – Best Crop of Winter Sown Oilseed Rape
1st - J Giffin, Leconfield Estate, Petworth
2nd - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
3rd - N Moss, River Park Farm, Lodsworth
Class 13 – Best Crop of Winter Beans
1st - G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth
2nd - R Green, Mitchell Park Farm, Northchapel
3rd - S Carter, Headfoldswood Farm, Loxwood
Class 14 – Best Crop of Spring Beans
1st- G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth
2nd - R Wilkins, Pallingham Manor Farm, Wisborough Green
3rd - S Carter, Headfoldswood Farm, Loxwood
Class 17 – Best Crop Organic Crop
1st - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham
Class 18 – Best Crop of Linseed
1st - T R Tupper (Bignor Farms),Bignor
Class 20 – Best Farm of 500 acres or less
1st – C Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
2nd – J C Hancock, Hurlands Farm, Selham
3rd – J Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford
Class 21 – Best Farm of 500 acres over less
1st – G Chandler & Son, Moor Farm, Petworth
2nd – E Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
3rd – R Lywood, Marshalls Farm, Kirdford
Class 51 – Best Clamp or Pit of Grass Silage
1st - J M Lywood, Battlehurst Farm, Kirdford
2nd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
3rd - J Renwick. Buddington Farm, Easebourne
Class 52 – Best Clamp or Pit of Maize Silage
1st - P Strudwick, Downs Farm, Amberley
2nd - C A Stickland, Burchetts Farm, Wisborough Green
3rd - J Renwick. Buddington Farm, Easebourne
Class 53 – Best Bale of Silage
1st - L Dallyn, Strood Farm, Petworth
2nd - D H Tupper, Littleton Farm, Upwaltham
3rd - R A Dallyn & Sons, Waltham Park Farm, Coldwaltham
Report and picture contributed by William Tupper .