A Pain Court teenager has taken home the top national ploughing prize for his age group after competing in a recent championship match in Manitoba.
Matthew Sterling is the junior Canadian conventional champion after his performance at the Canadian Plowing Championship in Rivers, Man. earlier this month.
The 19-year-old is also the recipient of the Canadian Plowing Organization scholarship, which is to be used towards his post-secondary education.
This is Sterling’s final year in the junior class. He will move to the senior Ontario class at the Ontario International Plowing Match later this year.
The champion and reserve champion of that match will compete at the national event in 2023.
“Matthew is a solid young plowman with the skills, ability and the ambition to continue this sport,” Cheryl Timbers, the secretary and treasurer with the Canadian Plowing Organization, said in an email.
“His total overall score was 621 points for the three days of competition. A great result for the Junior class. He will be a contender for sure.”
Sterling’s older brother, Brian, also competed in Manitoba in the senior conventional class. The 32-year-old placed third.