Farm workers got a rare chance to show off their skills and perhaps walk off with a prize or two during a ploughing match.

The Rochford Hundred ploughing match at Hawkwell Hall Farm, in Hawkwell, has been a regular fixture in the local farming calendar for more than 60 years and regularly sees vintage and modern tractors and shire horses pit themselves against each other to uncover this year’s champions.

The event, which was held by kind permission of WE Purkiss and Sons at the farm, attracted hundreds of visitors curious to see the age-old farming skills.

Event organiser David Milbourn, who graduated from the Royal Agricultural College, administers the Rochford Hundred Ploughing Match every year.

He said: “It was a great success, a fantastic day. There was lot of spectators and competitors, luckily the weather held out which really helped. There were loads of cups, certificates and prizes handed out to the winners on the day. It was a really fun day, lots of families came by to join in the fun, we had a great turnout and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.”

The site of the annual match rotates each year, this year guest were invited onto the farm from 9am to 2pm on Saturday. On Sunday, there was the vintage tractors qualifier organised by Rochford Hundred Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.