By Pete Small

Mark Woodward and his Tractor World Show rolled into Ingliston last weekend for the Scottish edition – the second year in succession that it has done so.

Staged in the spacious Highland Hall at the Royal Highland Showground, with Pentland Livestock’s large auction taking place in adjacent Central Hall, the event was bigger and better than the inaugural show in 2018.

With more space, better heating and brighter lighting, the two days proved to be far more relaxed and comfortable for the many exhibitors and visitors attending. The show consisted of numerous trade stands offering a huge range of parts, models, literature, clothing and gifts making it a shopper’s paradise for all ages and genders.

However, it was the exhibits that most came to see. Mr Woodward had made tractors and ploughs, and narrow tractors the themes, with exhibitors bringing them out in great numbers – and many Scottish examples featured. These included John McNae, of Tarbolton’s David Brown and Begg of Dalry plough and the Kilmarnock-built Massey Harris 744 tractor from Donald Finlay, of Stirling.

The Ferguson Club had some lovely original tractors, including a winning Ford Ferguson and a pair of narrow Ferguson T-20s, including a rare P3 version.

There were plenty of Bathgate-made tractors on the Nuffield/ Leyland stand, while another top exhibit was George Gray, of Ellon’s very original David Brown 950 on the DMR stand. Others in this condition included Ian Brown’s lovely Nuffield M4 and his top-class Ford 4600, Ian Muir’s International F14 and the winning Ford Ferguson on the Ferguson Club stand.

For restored tractors, it was David Kerr, of East Kilbride, who took top honours, but other success included the French family and the MacDonalds, from Aberdeenshire, whose Massey Fergusons stood out.

Other members of the clan, the MacDonalds from East Lothian, were also successful, with Allis Chalmers and Ferguson tractors. Many other implements were also on show to highlight the many tractors present that were also joined by some top-notch trucks which were also part of the overall show.

The tractor section was dominated by club stands which were dominated by the single make clubs, who took the chance to showcase their activities. The beauty of an out of season event such as this is that it allows many clubs based south of the Border to attend, likewise with some of the traders.

Some of the show exhibits also came from south of the Border allowing Scottish enthusiasts to sample some different machines.

The clubs created trade stand type displays with much spit and polish on show and it was the Friends of Ferguson Heritage which took the best club award. Sadly, only three regional clubs took part, but it was the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Club’s stand which took the show’s special award with an imaginative layout featuring a wartime sugar beet harvesting display, complete with a farmhouse kitchen scene.

The club's 1960s sugar beet sowing scene featured the Fordson Super Dexta, which is their charity raffle prize raising money for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance. The club used this to highlight their event being held at Cupar, in June, which will feature 'Farming in wartime' and the Cupar sugar beet factory.

It is hoped that more clubs and individuals will come forward next year to support an event which is much needed in Scotland.