Thirty-six competitors went head-to-head in the Farmers Weekly Britain’s Fittest Farmer finals on 20th September at Jeremy Clarkson’s Cotswolds pub, The Farmer’s Dog.
The final test, which followed previous regional heats, consisted of a grueling assault course built to push entrants' speed, strength and endurance to the limit. Hauling a pickup truck (pictured top) was just one of the brutal tasks.
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The competition, launched in 2018, was created to champion both physical and mental wellbeing across the farming community.
With farming being an isolating job, Farmers Weekly hopes the competition helps farmers to focus on their own mental health and wellbeing so that they can keep their business in tip-top condition too.
Entrants must go through brutal physical qualifying heats, where their strength is tested in physical challenges such as tractor-type flipping, barrel lifting and running with weights.
They then face an interview panel where they are merited on their suitability for becoming an ambassador for mental health in the industry.
Scores from each stage are then combined to crown one man and one woman under 40, and one man and one woman over 40, as Britain’s Fittest Farmers.
The four winners are awarded £1,000 each. This year they were:
- Women under 40s: Emily Meakin
- Women over 40s: Anne Grindal
- Men under 40s: Ben Squibb
- Men over 40s: Richard Stott
Mark Newman from the Farming Community Network, the event's charity partner, said: “Events like this are a great opportunity to get together for a sense of community. The competitors are the pinnacle of what farm fitness can look like.”
Jeremy Clarkson told Farmers Weekly: “I won’t be competing next year, I’ll have this beer and just be Britain’s fattest farmer instead.”
Find out more and register interest for next year.
Main image: Colin Miller
