Ellis Davies, Betlands Farm, Llanddewi, Gower talking about the founding of the West Gower Ploughing Society, the first ploughing match and memories of early post-war matches with horses and early tractors, and a humorous story of young Austin Morgan (of Brecon) first ploughing competition and first prize money.
Transcription:

ED:  When the West Gower Ploughing Society which was formed in 1942 during the war and it was formed because there were big numbers working on farms in those days there was a shortage of food and they had to plough up more land and as I say, there were large numbers working on the farm, so they started the ploughing match up as they thought it would be a form of recreation for the young people working on the land. 
ED: The first match I remember personally it was 1947, so the match was well, four years old…five years old.  It was a terrible, terrible wet day the matches were held in February in those times and it was a very very wet day, and sleet.  It was, the horses were shivering with the cold and people were putting bags over their backs to try and keep them a bit warmer.  Now that day stuck in my mind, 1947, very very wet day and the tractors, there were a few tractors ploughing then, but they were skidding.  They had to be towed.  Tractors weren't as powerful or as good as what they are today, and people were saying there, the old horsemen were saying all these tractors will never take over they are  not as good as the horse, but they did take over and the horses almost apart from a showing and exhibitions, the horses virtually gone off the land.  But that day very memorable in my mind. My brother was ploughing with horses that day, yeah,  I think he came third from memory. 
ED: Mr Austin Morgan told a true story that happened to him as a young boy of 12 years of age.  He was very keen to have a go at the local match, but the only tractor they had at the time on the farm was a standard Fordson on iron wheels and that was a heavy tractor.  Austin's father was of the opinion that the tractor was too heavy to handle for one so young and advised Austin to ask a neighbour just up the lane if he could borrow his Allis-Chalmers Model B, which was a small light tractor.   
The neighbour had a reputation of being rather mean and Austin replied that he would probably not lend it.  Mr Morgan said, I will ask for the loan of the tractor, I don't think he'll say no to me.  So it was agreed that Austin could borrow the tractor.  
Next morning, after feeding the livestock, Austin went to fetch the tractor. Before he left the yard he had the big lecture to be very careful with this tractor as it had cost a lot of money, “make sure you have plenty of headland to turn and keep away from steep banks”. 
The evening before the ploughing match, Austin polished up the tractor until she was gleaming.  The day of the competition arrived. A young Austin did rather well.  He won the boy's class best in and outs in the competition. That's where you put the plough in and where you draw it out.  And prize for the best turned out tractor.  In total, his winnings amounted to five Guineas, the sort of money Austin had never dreamed of before.  All he used to get was five bob to go to Brecon Fair. 
Next morning, Austin's father told him to wash down the tractor and make sure the she full to the brim of fuel and then and then return it, thank the neighbour for the loan and ask do we owe you anything?  This Austin did and the neighbour said: “Well young man I have worked it out that you won five Guineas. I will take the five Guineas. 
Austin used the Fordson for the next match.