YOUNG Farmers dug deep to try to out-do each other in a range of traditional agricultural crafts and activities recently.

Hundreds of members from Young Farmers’ Clubs across the North gathered at the Houghall Campus of East Durham College to compete in 40 events of a rural and rustic nature.

It was County Durham’s turn to host the competition, and, as in 2005, Houghall, an agricultural and horticultural college with its own farm, was considered the ideal venue.

There were competitions in livestock judging, Land Rover driving, tug of war, ploughing, and health and safety also featured strongly, as a major concern for the modern farmer.

Janice Baker, secretary of the Durham Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, said the wet weather failed to dampen enthusiasm, adding: “It probably helped to increase the turnout as many people couldn’t get on with work on their farms because of the rain, so they decided to have a look at the event.”

Yorkshire took the overall trophy, but County Durham, despite being the smallest team, came out top in the stock judging.

Winners in the various categories will all go on to represent the North in the national finals at Stoneleigh, in Warwickshire, later in the summer.

All the competitors put aside their local rivalries for a big social event staged in a giant marquee on the Houghall site at the evening do.