A SHEEP farmer from Lea is to represent Britain in next year’s European Ploughing Championships.

John Hodges beat the cream of the crop when he took the vintage trailed class at the national championships in Lincolnshire last weekend with his 1943 Fordson tractor.

A veteran of many contests over the past 20 years, it was his best success yet and the first time the title had been wrested from the grip of South Yorkshire ploughmen in seven years.

"The competition is quite stiff," said John, 65.

The competitors were the winners of qualifying heats up and down the country. "They were the best 21 in the country and the man who won it last year was the European Champion."

John learned his skill by watching other people and reading books. "The object is neatness," he explained. "The better you plough the less work you have to do to get the land set better to plant the following crop."

He started out local competitions.

"I used to plough with modern equipment in Young Farmers classes," he said. But it was the vintage class where ploughing is done as it was during the Second World War era that really attracted him.

"I just fancied having a go at it and I had an interest in old tractors."

His Fordson has no electrics, he has to use a starting handle to get it going and when it is warmed up he has to switch it over from petrol to parafin. "All our tractors were like that 50 or 60 years ago."

His wife Veronica said: "I am very proud of him and his commitment to this ‘sport.’"

The European Championships take place in Ireland.