The special theme at the 2009 annual Holbeach Vintage rally was single-furrow ploughs and arguably had the best turnout in recent years for this section. Arranged around the small marquee, with the exception of the Lanz, all other tractors were drawn in forwards so as to not take the emphasis away from the ploughs, and the overall impression was very colourful. Elsewhere, some last-minute tweaks in the layout generally found favour but there is always scope for some improvements next year.

In regard to the theme section, motive power including a rare Ferguson 1010 model, Lanz, Fordson, Caterpillar, David Brown, BMB, Ransomes, Trusty, Anzani, Winget, Gunsmith & Barford. Most of these had either conventional, reversible or two-way butterfly ploughs from their equivalent manufacturer, and inside the marquee, a large display of horticultural ploughs was on display. One small mystery implement has since been possibly identified as belonging to a Clifford, and as a result negotiations are on-going for it to join our collection where it can be mated to our small Clifford, currently carrying a rotorvator attachment.

Opposite the theme, more horticultural, model and bygone displays were arranged within a walk-in area. Between the two a walk-way led down to the stationary engines, which this year were arranged in an L-shape. Again, with only one pre-determined absentee, we had a considerable number of Petters and Listers on display, but also some rarities including a lovely French-built Bernard, Ideal with corn-mill, and extremely rare carrot-hopper Ruston PT.

This led back up the craft area, where we had no less than three marquees plus a number of outside gazebos in support, and so on past the military/emergency vehicles to the classic cars. Here, three lines of vehicles were on show, my favourite being the convertible green Ford Zodiac. This was superbly presented. However, the classic caravan and camper-vans were away over the far side of the field and personally, I think it would be good to have the old caravans as a backdrop to the cars, uniting this discipline of the show.

As usual, under the stewardship of Jimmy “The Brick”, the military and commercial section was very well supported with Hedger Transport featuring no less than nine vehicles, Alec Ford three and Jack Richards two. However, my favourite was the newly restored Dodge K-series in Pauls & White Animal Feeds livery, closely followed by the Dennis Lancet bus. Richard Robinson showed his Volvo F88 but I consider it a shame the Salter fleet was not able to be on show.

Moving across to the tractor section, there were still some 30 or so machines on show despite others being on display in the theme section, Downing’s trade stand and Holbeach Marsh Preservation Society’s area. The Matbro is now starting to take shape with tin-work being present over the engine, and it was good to see my cousin’s early Fordson E27N with hand-lift on steel wheels seeing the light of day after around three decades of barn storage, albeit in new ownership.

The two full-size steams engines we managed to muster were both rollers. I suppose you could call them cousins, the smaller and earlier one being an Aveling & Porter built in Kent, the larger being the youngest steam roller in preservation, an Aveling & Barford built in Lincolnshire. Close to the ring-side were the motorcycles, but unfortunately I only got time to take a few groups shots and not look at them in detail this year.

Ring entertainment included the Spalding Ambassador Marching Band who it has to be said were very good. The tractor starting demo can hopefully be expanded to take into account veteran machines another year, and the egg-throwing competition and tractor handling antics returned for another outing. With a small fairground and more trade stands than we were led to believe we would have, it was overall a very successful show.