THE British National Ploughing Championships is back in Herefordshire at the weekend for the first time since 1986.
Organisers of the event, which takes place on both Saturday and Sunday, are expecting a record crowd at Llanwarne Court, Llanwarne, near Ross-on-Wye, just off the A466.
A total of 250 champion ploughmen, including three ploughwomen, will travel from all over the country to compete in the event, after qualifying at local ploughing matches for their places.
The top prize they are aiming for is to represent their country at the 2014 World Ploughing Contest in France.
The championships are a highlight of the farming calendar and feature champion ploughmen using various styles of equipment: modern tractors pulling conventional and reversible ploughs; vintage tractors pulling many different types of old ploughs; and heavy horses with their ancient horse drawn ploughs.
On Friday evening there will be a traditional service of dedication and blessing of the plough at St David's Church, Much Dewchurch.
Visit www.ploughmen.co.uk for more information.