Fergie Fillies to make show debut

If you are looking for thrills and spills at the Royal Cornwall Show, you’ll usually find it in the event’s main ring. This year will be no different with a fantastic line-up of dare-devil stuntmen and fast-paced horseback competitions.

However, taking the pace down a little this year, but turning the fun up to full, will be the Fergie Fillies.

The Fergie Fillies are a group of sixteen novice tractor drivers from Cornwall and they are all set to combine girl-power with horse-power. Albeit the modest horse-power of the iconic Ferguson TE-20 tractor, or the Little Grey Fergie as it is better known.

Their aim is to create a display of precision all-girl formation driving. Think Red Arrows on grass and vintage tractors instead of supersonic jets and you are probably on the right lines.

The girls have practised hard to master driving the little grey Fergie which can probably claim to be the world’s most famous mass produced tractor. More than a million were produced between 1946 and 1956, half a million each at Harry Ferguson’s factories in Coventry and Detroit, USA and they were exported throughout the world.

1940’s technology takes a little time to get used to but under the tutelage of vintage tractor enthusiast, David Taylor, the team are now ready for action.

The original team of twelve ladies made their debut performance at last year’s St Mawgan Steam and Vintage Rally, but this year David has expanded the team to sixteen to ensure that they can fill the show’s vast main ring with their tightly choreographed performances.

David said:

“What the girls lacked in experience is more than made up for by their tenacity and enthusiasm. However, I'm still finding it hard to believe that lipstick and mascara are now an essential part of the tractor driver’s tool kit!”

The team will perform on each day of this year’s show and their act is shaping up to be one that is not to be missed.