Conventional and Reversible

(Stubble and Grassland)

TYPE OF LAND NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

Each competitor will be required to plough one plot of stubble and one plot of grassland.

Note: Grassland ploughing should be regarded as being for a grain crop.

 PLOT SIZES

(a) In Qualifying Events and the New Zealand Ploughing Championships, the size of the plot to be ploughed shall measure 2000 square metres (20 metres in width and 100 metres in length for conventional) if practicable. The measurements for reversible shall be (24 metres at one end and 16 metres at the opposite end for the width and 100 metres in length) if practicable. All reversible plots will be on the angle for the New Zealand Championships.

(b) The draw for plots will take place the day before the Championships at the Competitors' Briefing Meeting and there will be one draw for each day.

(c) No practice will be allowed within the competition site on competition days.

 TIME ALLOWED

(a) The period of time allowed for the ploughing of the opening split/opening furrow is 20 minutes. In the event that a competitor has not completed his/her opening split/opening furrow upon the expiry of the 20 minute period they may take extra time to do so. The additional time will be recorded by the Head Stewards and each minute or part of a minute of extra time will incur a penalty of 1 point.

The total time allowed for the ploughing of each plot is 3 hours (that is: 3 hours to plough the stubble plot and 3 hours to plough the grassland plot).

In the event that a competitor has not completed his/her plot upon the expiry of the 3 hours period, they may take extra time to do so. The additional time taken will be recorded by the Head Stewards and each minute or part of a minute extra time will incur a penalty of 5 points. Any time taken by the competitor additional to the specified 3 hours shall be recorded as from the moment of the given finishing signal or, as the case may be, from the expiration of the period of any extra time already granted until the moment of time when the plough is finally lifted out at the headland scratch mark upon completion of the plot.

The penalties will be formally imposed by the Head Stewards in committee at the conclusion of each days competition.

 (b) The opening split/opening furrow must be completed in the first 20 minutes of the contest after which time ploughing will be stopped for 40 minutes whilst the opening splits/opening furrows are judged.

 (c) Extra time maybe requested only in the case of a mechanical breakdown or situation beyond the control of the competitor or the organisers. In this case, as well as waiting on his/her neighbour, the competitor must contact their Plot Steward and through the Plot Steward receive a decision of the Head Stewards. A competitor will be allowed up to a total of one hour extra time in cases of mechanical breakdowns. If the breakdowns are to exceed one hour the competitor must use the spare tractor or plough or retire from the contest that day. All points accumulated up to retirement will count towards the competitors final result.

 (d) When the tractor front wheels are over the scratch mark a competitor is considered to be ploughing.

 TRACTORS

(a) The New Zealand Ploughing Championships and Qualifying Events will be limited to wheel tractor-ploughing.

 (b) A competitor must not ride on his or her plough or tractor in such a way as may be considered dangerous by the Stewards. Any direction from the Stewards in this respect must be observed.

 (c) In the interest of safety, tractors must be driven from the seat.

 (d) All tractors must conform to the Safety Frame Regulations operating at the time.

 TYPE OF PLOUGH

(a) Conventional contestants will be limited to tractor two furrow mouldboard ploughs until further notice. The ploughs shall be either mounted or trailer models

Reversible contestants will be limited to tractor mounted mouldboard ploughs. Up to four furrow ploughs are permissible at Qualifying Events. Two and three furrow ploughs are permitted at the New Zealand Championships. Both rules are interim rules.

All ploughs shall be fitted with skimmers. No other extraneous attachments will be allowed other than a tailpiece measuring 26cm in length by 22cm in width. The total distance from the end of the mouldboard to the end of the tailpiece including brackets must not exceed 32cm. The concave or convex of the tailpiece must not be greater than a ratio of 1 mm to each 15mm in width.

 (b) Plough bodies must not be raised out of position or otherwise adjusted in such a way as to make the plough, in effect, a single furrow mouldboard plough during the course of the contest. This rule does not preclude using only one body in making the opening, conventional finish, or whilst ploughing the butts in reversible.

 (c) While the onus is on the contestant to ensure that their plough complies, the association conducting the Qualifying Event must arrange for inspection by specially appointed Inspectors before the event commences. The New Zealand Ploughing Association will appoint Inspectors for the Championships.

 (d) A plough approved for a Qualifying Event may not necessarily be accepted for the Championships.

 TYPE OF PLOUGHING

In grassland ploughing, the furrows should be firm, well shaped, unbroken, rounded or edged and clearly recognisable throughout the whole length of the plot.

In stubble ploughing the furrows should be crumbled, but well shaped and slightly rounded and should be clearly recognisable throughout the whole length of the plot.

In brief, the grassland furrow is a whole furrow slice, while the stubble furrow is a rounded and crumbled furrow slice.

 SIGHTING AND SETTING OUT

(a) Three sighting poles only may be used and they may be placed in position prior to the starting signal. The last sighting pole must not be placed beyond the Headland area. The use of a guide line, footmarks, stones or anything else instead of, or additional to the three poles permitted, is forbidden. The plot number stake as placed by the Stewards indicates the centre of the crown and it must not be used as a sighting aid. The help of a second person in placing and removing sighting poles is the only assistance permitted to any competitor and they must remain ahead of the tractor. Sighting poles permitted only on the setting out, except for reversible as sighting poles are also used for the scratch mark at the butts.

 (b) Competitors may not be assisted by a second person during the time between the starting and finishing signals, other than the removal of sighting poles.

Reversible competitors are allowed assistance to place and remove sighting poles for the scratch mark at the butts.

 (c) Other persons seeking to offer advice or assistance to competitors should be warned by the Stewards that they make the competitor liable for disqualification.

 FURROWS

Skimmers must be used. No cut allowed after the first round of the coulter or share of any plough. The coulter must revolve on the near side of the beam. No shaping of furrows by hand, hand-held instrument, treading or other manipulation will be allowed. The rolling of rippling is not permitted. Ploughs must be fitted with coulters, skimmers and shares and may be fitted with tailpieces. These attachments, except tailpieces must be used when ploughing otherwise points will be deducted. Skimmers may be removed for the opening and finish only and shares may be removed for the opening only.

 METHODS OF TAKING DEPTH MEASUREMENTS

 Conventional Ploughing

 The depth will be measured in three sets of three measurements, (i.e. 3 times in each of 3 furrows) on each competitors plot during the contest.

 (a) The first set will be taken in the sixth furrow.

 (b) The second set will be taken during the bodywork, (approximately 50% ploughed).

 (c) The final set will be taken when there are nine furrows still to be ploughed. (i.e.        approximately 2.700 metres)

 Reversible Ploughing

The depth will be measured in four sets of three measurements, (i.e. 3 times in each of 4 furrows) on each competitors plot during the contest.

 (a) The first set will be taken in the sixth furrow.

 (b) The second set will be taken in the sixth furrow against the neighbouring plot.

 (c) The third set will be taken in the sixth furrow into the butts

 (d) The final set will be taken between the fourth furrow into and before the last four furrows of the   finish.  (i.e. prior to ploughing the last 1.300 metres)

 Conventional and Reversible Ploughing

Measuring places will be selected at random in any furrow as specified and three measurements taken in the same furrow at a minimum of 15 metres apart.

 The first two metres from the ins and outs is excluded.

 Depth is judged on the average of each set of three measurements for each competitor.

Note: The Plot Stewards shall, on having taken the first set of measurements, inform the competitor immediately if his/her ploughing is not within the required depth.

 Penalty Points: All penalty points are deducted by the Head Steward.

 STARTING AND FINISHING SIGNALS

 Three flags will be used:

Red - Stop - no ploughing.

Amber - 5 minute warning of change.

Green - Start ploughing or continue.

 Before contestants line up at the plots the red flag should be raised, and 5 minutes before start the amber flag should be raised.

 At start the green flag is raised and the red and amber lowered.

After 15 minutes the amber flag is raised.

 5 minutes later the red flag is raised and the green and amber lowered.

 A halt of 40 minutes is taken while the opening splits/opening furrows are judged.

 5 minutes before the restart the amber flag is raised. At restart the green flag is raised  and the red and    amber lowered.

 After 2 hours and 35 minutes (based on 3 hours total ploughing time) the amber flag is raised.

5 minutes later the red flag is raised and green and amber lowered to indicate the end of the contest.

 The committee reserves the right to alter the times and to depart from this method of giving warning signals and any variations will be conveyed to the competitors.

 ENCROACHING ON PLOTS

 After completion of "setting out" no person other than the Competitor, Judges, Stewards and Officials authorised by the Committee or their nominees shall be allowed on any plot until all judging has been completed.

 INFRINGEMENTS

 A competitor breaking any of these Rules will receive one warning from the Head Stewards who will deduct from 1 to 10 points from the competitors score at their discretion. Upon a second infringement the competitor will be disqualified by the Head Stewards. No shaping of furrows by hand, hand-held instrument, or by treading, or other manipulation, will be allowed. Rolling with the tractor wheels is not permitted.

 Conventional competitors must dismount from their tractors on the landside. Dismounting from the tractor on to the ploughing (except whilst ploughing the finish) will be regarded as treading and will be penalised.

 Reversible competitors are permitted to dismount from the tractor on to the ploughing whilst ploughing with the left-hand bodies, but only in the interests of safety. Any unnecessary walking on the ploughing will not be permitted and will be penalised.

METHOD OF PLOUGHING

Conventional

 OPENING SPLIT

Contestants at Qualifying Events and the New Zealand Championships must make an opening split at the setting out. A split shall be made in which the rippling are turned out. The split must be well cut through so that no land is left unturned between the rippling throughout its length and width, thus ensuring all land having been cut. The rippling must not be rolled.

 CROWN

The crown shall commence by turning the rippling to the centre.

The crown shall consist of four rounds. Either 7 or 8 furrows will be showing on each side.

Afer completing four rounds the competitor then commences to throw out to the neighbouring competitor. The direction will be advised at briefing.

 BODYWORK

The bodywork consists of the land between the crown, the neighbouring plot and the finish.

Faulty ploughing done by the neighbouring competitor should be corrected with the first and second runs against the neighbours plot. The tractor must not be driven unnecessarily on any of the ploughed land, otherwise this may be regarded as an improper manipulation of the furrows.

 FINISH

The finish comprises the last three rounds and the sole furrow. The sole furrow must be turned towards the competitors crown. Idle runs to opposite ends are permitted but must be made on the headlands. Idle runs through the plot will be penalised. Only one tractor wheel mark is allowed at the finish.

 INS AND OUTS

The front share should enter the ground at the scratch mark at the headlands and the rear share should leave the ground at the scratch mark. Ploughs must reach the required depth within two metres from the headland mark.

Reversible

 OPENING FURROW

Contestants at Qualifying Events and the New Zealand Championships must plough a single opening furrow. The opening furrow is ploughed using the right rear body. The opening furrow must not be rolled.

 SCRATCH MARK FOR BUTTS

The scratch mark must be made whilst the opening furrow is being judged. No extra time is allowed. The scratch mark for the butts should be made parallel to the opening furrow to allow 19 or 20 furrows for two furrow ploughs, 20 or 21 furrows for three furrow ploughs from the butts to the opening furrow. Three sighting poles may be used for making the scratch mark. Assistance is allowed to place and remove the sighting poles. No handling or rolling of the scratch allowed. Either left or right hand bodies may be used for making the scratch.

 CROWN

Ploughing must commence using the left hand bodies turning the opening furrow back into the opening, thus forming the crown.

 The crown shall consist of four rounds for two furrow ploughs (i.e.eight furrows on one side) or three rounds for three furrow ploughs ( i.e. nine furrows on one side).

 After completing eight furrows for two furrow ploughs or nine furrows for three furrow ploughs the competitor commences to throw out to the neighbouring competitor. The direction will be advised at briefing.

 BODYWORK

This is the land between the neighbouring plot and the competitors own butts.

 Faulty ploughing done by the neighbouring competitor should be corrected with the first and second runs against the neighbours plot. The tractor must not be driven unnecessarily on any of the ploughed land, otherwise this may be regarded as an improper manipulation of the furrows.

 Alternate bodies must be used at all times when ploughing the plot. When ploughing the butts the tractor must be turned within the plot.

 CONNECTING FURROW

The connecting furrow may be ploughed showing one, two or three furrows but with all bodies in a working position.

 Additional attachments are not permitted when ploughing the connecting furrow.

 Sighting poles are not allowed when ploughing the connecting furrow.

 FINISH

(a) Finishing Furrows (the furrows from the butts to the crown)

 The finishing furrows shall be the remaining 19 or 20 furrows for two furrow ploughs, 20 or 21 for three furrow ploughs, (including the connecting furrow and the final furrows).

 Competitors with two furrow ploughs must make 10 runs to conclude the finishing furrows, whilst competitors with three furrow ploughs must make 7 runs. No single furrows (one or two bodies in work) across the plot are permitted, except when ploughing the butts.

 (b) Final Furrow

The final furrow should be cut close to the opening furrow. There should be no land left unploughed and no part of the crown furrow re-ploughed. Only one tractor wheel-mark is allowed at the finish. Idle runs are not permitted. Penalty- 10 points per run.

INS AND OUTS

The front share should enter the ground at the scratch mark at the headland and the rear share should leave the ground at the scratch mark. Ins and outs must not be rolled.

Duties of Head Stewards

1. The Head Stewards will make themselves familiar with the contest area and be assured that all plot  as far as possible, are equally fair for each competitor.

2. They will examine every competitor's plough and ensure that it complies with the specifications set down in the Rules.

3. They shall be responsible for ensuring the conduct of the contest in accordance with the Rules.

4. They shall allocate plots for each Plot Steward and see that they understand their duties and the Rules of the contest.

5. The Head Stewards are the sole authority for deciding upon all matters reported to them by the plot stewards, e.g. extra time allowed, if necessary when a mechanical breakdown has occurred. When an infringement is reported they will decide upon the penalty and inform the competitor accordingly.

6. Head Stewards have authority to refuse admission to any person beyond the barrier onto the contest area. Only previously authorised persons will be permitted on the contest area, i.e. judges, stewards, official photographers or specially invited persons.

7. Any question arising, or incident occurring, involving the Rules and conduct during the contest, shall in all cases be referred to the Head Stewards who will make a decision in each case and whose decision will be final and binding.

Duties of Plot Stewards

1. Each plot steward will supervise no more than three plots.

2. The principal duty is to ensure that competitors are given no assistance by other persons and that spectators and others are not allowed to interfere with, or walk on their ploughing.

3. Each steward is required to continuously observe the competitors under their supervision during the whole period of the contest, and no steward shall leave his/her allocated plots during this period without first notifying the Head Steward.

4. Plot stewards will ensure that competitors strictly observe the Rules and will report the details of any infringements to the Head Steward with the minimum of delay. The Head Steward will consider the reported infringement and decide on the penalty if the infringement is substantiated.

5. Absolutely no assistance is allowed to any competitor other than to set and move sighting poles. This rule must be strictly enforced and any competitor who is so helped must at once be warned and reported to the Head Steward.

6. No person is allowed to signal to a competitor by any means from the headland. Signalling is considered assistance and must be reported to the Head Steward.

7. The plot stewards will protect competitors from being approached by the Press and others during the period of the contest and will prevent all persons other than the Judges from walking on the ploughed land.

 8. Plot stewards and Head Stewards should make use of the PA system in appealing to spectators to keep off plots, should an appeal be necessary. Stewards should do all they can to safeguard the interests of competitors to allow them every fair chance.

9. Stewards must answer any queries which the competitors may have or obtain an answer from the Head Steward and may, if permitted by the Head Steward assist only with the lifting of heavy equipment which is normally required to be handled by more than one person.

10. Assistance in the event of a mechanical breakdown, may be permitted by the Head Steward. Plot stewards will be responsible for recording the time lost by any of the competitors under their supervision owing to a mechanical breakdown, or having to wait on their neighbour, and will report same without delay to the Head Steward.

11. The contest is ended as soon as the final signal or announcement has been made. Refer to Rule         18(c).

12. Plot stewards must make sure that competitors have seen or heard the starting and finishing signals.

13. Plot stewards are required to be on duty, one and a half hours prior to commencement of the contest in order to meet for briefing with the Head Stewards.

14. All plot stewards are required to be in position on the headland of their plots before competitors take up their positions.

15. Plot Stewards are responsible for checking the depth of ploughing, which will be measured in three sets of three measurements, (i.e. 3 times in each of 3 furrows) for conventional, and four sets of three measurements, (i.e. 3 times in each of 4 furrows) for reversible, on each competitors plot during the contest. Measuring places will be selected at random in any furrow as specified and three measurements taken in the same furrow at a minimum of 15 metres apart. The first two metres from the ins and outs are excluded. Depth is judged on the average of each set of three measurements for each competitor.

 The plot steward shall, on having taken the first set of measurements, inform the competitor immediately if his/her ploughing is not within the required depth. Depth measurements will be taken against the furrow wall and be recorded. Plot stewards will be instructed at a briefing on the method of taking depth measurements. A set of instructions will be issued to stewards. Plot stewards are responsible for correct placing of plot number signs. Each sign (at either end) should be placed approximately 5 metres in from the ins and outs and approximately 4 furrows on the bodywork side of the crown.

Penalty points

All penalty points are deducted by the Head Stewards.