1939

The IPM opened at Brockville 10th October.  Tuesday's events were open only to Eastern Ontario contestants, and curtailed by high winds and rain.  Chief Elliot Moses led the Indian delegation while the Manitoulin Island entrants were:  Mike Wasegijig, J.P. Jacko, R.P. Wasegijig and Charles King.

Friday, 20th October - The East and West Oxford Match was held at Verne Meek's farm one mile south and east of Ingersoll - reported in Saturday's edition of the Ingersoll Daily Sentinel Review.

Saturday, 21st October - OXFORD PLOWING MATCH MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENT

The annual plowing match sponsored by the East and West Oxford townships, held yesterday, was the best in the four years of the association's yearly efforts. The best October weather accorded an attendance that topped all previous marks and more numerous entries, some who participated in the previous weeks IPM.  A large crowd strolled back and forth in small detachments to watch the work in various classes. Agriculture had its day, and made the most of it.

At noon, about 100 of the plowmen patronized the Ladies' Aid of the West Oxford church who provided a splendid dinner at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Heeney.  The ladies also had a booth on the grounds.

W.C. Barrie of Galt was judge of plowing and teams.  Dr. J.G.Murray,Ingersoll, judged the teams and equipment.  There were many classes.  The placings were:

Class one, sod, open -

1. R.G. Brown, Galt;

2. William Gemmel, Galt;

3. Marshall Deans, Paris;

4. Orville Brush, RR2 Wyoming;

5. Clifford Cox, RR1, Woodstock;

6. A.D. Robinson, West Oxford;

7. Russel Brush, Wyoming.

Class two, sod, open to Oxford -

1. Geo. Jakeman, W. Oxford;

2. Fred Bertrand, E. Oxford;

3. Howard Chilton, W. Oxford;

4. Fred Howard, Golspie;

5. Norman Shelton, E. Oxford;

6. Russell Pellow, W. Oxford;

7. Mervin Cuthbert, N. Oxford;

8. Russell Masson, W. Oxford.

Class three, sod, open to Oxford County boys 22 years & under -

1. Murray Budd, W. Oxford;

2. Clifford Sly, E. Oxford;

3. Kenneth Wade, W. Oxford;

Best crown & finish, Murray Budd.

Class four, sod, open to Oxford County boys 19 years and under -

1. Ross Hargreaves, W. Oxford;

2. Floyd Franklin, W. Oxford;

3. T. Webber, W. Oxford;

Best crown & finish, Ross Hargraves.

Class five, sod, open to Oxford County boys 16 years and under -

1. Leslie Pellow, W. Oxford;

2. Murray Haycock, Dereham

Best crown & finish, Leslie Pellow.

Class six, sod, amateur class for East and West Oxford townships -

1. Vernon Cuthbert, W. Oxford;

2. Max Franklin, W. Oxford;

3. A. Roberts, E. Oxford;

4. John Bone, W. Oxford

Best crown, Vernon Cuthbert; best finish Max Franklin.

Class seven, tractor, sod -

1. Alex Black, Guelph RR2;

2. Ed Mitchell, Denfield;

3. Ken Rath, Mossley.

Class eight, tractor, two furrow plows, open to Oxford County -

1. Jack Hargreaves, W. Oxford;

2. Ray Jeffrey, E. Oxford;

3. Charles Laister, E. Oxford;

4. W. Roberts, E. Oxford;

5. Fred Williams, W. Oxford.

Class nine, tractor, three furrow plows, open to Oxford County -

1. W.B. Blancher, W. Oxford;

2. K. Howard, RR3, Woodstock;

3. W. Gray, W. Oxford.

SPECIAL PRIZES

Best team and equipment, County House of Refuge, Russell Masson, George Franklin, George Jakeman, A. Roberts, A.D. Robinson;    Author's comment: The County House of Refuge on 11th  Line of East Zorra owned a farm(west side of the road) where the Oxford County sheds are.The manager was Fred Bertrand, who placed 2nd in Class two,above,where his address is stated as East Oxford. To win best team&equipment is a tribute to his management.

Best plow team, George Jakeman;

Best plowed land, open to West Oxford, Ross Hargreaves;

Best plowed land, open to East Oxford, Ray Jeffrey;

Best plowed land to Oxford plowmen, Ross Hargreaves;

Youngest plowman, Leslie Pellow;

Oldest plowman, W.B. Blancher;

Best plowed land by a beginner,the John Hargreaves special trophy, was won by Vernon Cuthbert

Best plowed land, jointer plow, sod classes, Ross Hargreaves

Best plowed land, plow drawn by a Silver King tractor, Ray Jeffery, Curries.

Author's comment:  This would be the first plowing match attended by my father Ken Howard, where he won second prize.  Albert Roberts competed in the amateur class.  In future years, Ken Howard and Albert Roberts competed as a team at the 1946 Victory Match and were side by side in both the group photos of 1949 and 1951 Borden's Class.

JUNIOR PLOWING MATCH NOVEMBER 1

At the Ingersoll Junior Farmers meeting of Wednesday, October 25th, the winners of the judging competition at the Ingersoll Fair were announced, Seniors:  Philip Moulton, Bruce Thornton, Frank Caffyn, Mervin Cuthbert, Murray Budd, Ross Moulton; Juniors:  Earl Shelton, John Hargreaves Jr., Archie Longworth, Joe Garfat, Walter Corbett, Hugh Gordon, R. Kelly.

Harry Ellery of the plowing match committee announced the juniors match will be on the farm of William H. Chambers, 1 mile south of Salford, Wednesday, November 1st.  Will Barrie was judge again, weather ideal, and the event was the best yet in every way.

A tug-of-war between teams representing the north side of the river captained by Gordon Sandick and the south side of the river captained by LeRoy Wilson was won by the north.

A drawing contest between teams owned by George Franklin and Theo Weber was a close one.  The load started at two tons and was gradually built up as the teams proved equal to each addition.  George Franklin's team won.  Chief Constable Alex Callander of Ingersoll officiated over this as he did the tug-of-war pull.  Snow fencing kept the large crowd back and afforded equal opportunity for all spectators.

Most contestants of the East and West Oxford Match competed at the Junior Farmer Match.  The winners:

Tractor class, 10 inches and over -

1. Murray McBeth, Salford;

2. Kenneth Rath, Crampton;

best crown & finish, Murray McBeth.

Open Class -

1. Harry Blackman, Ingersoll;

2. A.D. Robinson, Ingersoll, RR4;

3. Fred Howard,  Woodstock;

4. Norman Shelton, Woodstock, RR7;

5. Howard Chilton, Beachville, RR1;

6. Russell Pellows, Woodstock, RR4;

Best crown & finish, Harry Blackman.

Class open to active members of Ingersoll Junior Farmers -

1. George Jakeman, Beachville, RR1;

2. Mervin Cuthbert, Ingersoll, RR2;

3. Murray Budd, Ingersoll, RR5;

4. William Northmore, Putnam;

5. Ellis Wilson, Ingersoll, RR5;

6. Kenneth Wade, Ingersoll;

Best crown & finish, Geo. Jakeman.

No handling class, open -

1. A. Roberts, Woodstock, RR2;

2. Floyd Franklin, Ingersoll, RR2;

3. Roy Whatley, Beachville, RR1;

4. Cecil Howard, Ingersoll, RR5;

5. Harold Haycock, Ingersoll, RR5;

Best crown & finish, A. Roberts.

Class 20 years and under -

1. Ross Hargreaves, Beachville, RR1;

2. Fred Williams, Ingersoll, RR5;

3. Verne Cuthbert, Ingersoll, RR4;

4. Theo Webber, Salford;

5. Glen Bartram, Salford;

6. Wilbert Fleming, Ingersoll, RR2;

7. Roger Nagle, Salford, 13 years who was the youngest competitor

Best crown & finish, Ross Hargreaves.
Many donors, including three Ingersoll banks,contributed to the prize lists.