The competition is open to club members that have invented new machines, or adapted existing machines, related to the agricultural industry. The winners were chosen following a judging day in early February where each entrant was visited and given the opportunity to show off their invention.

The winner this year was Hugh Reeve, of Walsham-le-Willows for his innovative gas gun security trailer. Designed to be pulled behind an ATV, the gas gun base, gas bottle and battery is fully enclosed in a steel box on wheels with a bolt-on lid.

The gas gun sticks out one side of the box, while there is a window for a light sensor at the other side. Once in place in the field, the wheels are easily released by removed two lynch pins to make the box difficult to remove.

Second prize went to Stephen Hall, of Ringsfield, for his home-made tillage train made completely from bits and pieces he had lying around the farm. As capable as any modern single-pass cultivator, the machine has two rows of discs at the front, two rows of tines in the middle, and a further row of discs and a consolidation roller at the rear. Adjustments are available to set the working depth of the tines in relation to the other elements of the machine, and a central axle allows the trailed machine to be lifted out of work.

Hugh Reeve also took third place, this time with an ingenious manoeuvring wheel on a grain elevator. Comprising a rubber ground wheel that is powered through a gearbox driven by a hand crank, the device allows the elevator to be moved small distances without having to go to the trouble of attaching it to a tractor.

Peter Knight, of Rushbrook, took the gadget award for a bracket and chain arrangement fitted to a post-hole borer that makes it easier to keep posts vertical and in a straight line.

Many of the entries in the Schemer Competition go forward to the Inventive Farmers Competition at the Suffolk Show, which is sponsored by Farmers Guide. There they go up against entries from across the Eastern Counties and further afield.

Hugh Reeve’s first prize winning gas gun security trailer – ideal for anyone that’s fed up losing gas bottles and batteries.

Stephen Hall’s tillage train was awarded second prize in the Schemer Competition.

Third prize also went to Hugh Reeve for this manoeuvring wheel fitted to a grain elevator.

The best gadget prize went to Peter Knight for this guide chain arrangement for a post-hole borer.

Roger Desborough, of Wenhaston, entered this battery-powered vintage tractor starter that takes the place of the starting handle.

Hugh Reeve also entered this set of track eradicators made for a Väderstad drill in the competition.

Andrew Gaught, of Ashbocking, entered this home-made subsoiler oilseed rape drill. Made completely from salvaged parts, the machine was used to establish a crop in the autumn. The desired row width is achieved by driving partly within the previous pass so that one of the subsoiler legs is within the rows that have already been sown.