European & NI International Ploughing Championships Launches
The Northern Ireland Ploughing Association recently launched the 2012 Ploughing Championships which will take place this year in Drumahoe, Co Londonderry. The event sponsored by Danske Bank, and incorporating the 2012 European Reversible Ploughing Contest, will be hosted on 5th & 6th October in Drumahoe by Mr & Mrs Henry Craig.
Guests at the Best Western White Horse hotel included City of Derry Mayor, Mr Kevin Campbell; Mr John Henning, Mr Brendan McGarry & Mr Mark Taylor, Northern bank; Lorna Watson, DARD; Mr William Wilson, YFCU; Mr John Cairns, Agco; Mr Robert Erwin, Farm Week; with Senior Officers from the NI Ploughing Association Lawrence McMillan, Patron; William King, President; Wilson Holden, Chairman; Brian McNally, Vice Chairman; Joyce Peden, Secretary and Glenn Kerr, Treasurer.
At the launch, NIPA Chairman, Mr Wilson Holden welcomed guests and announced details of the up-coming event. “Our ploughing championships are a key event in the agricultural calendar celebrating the best of rural living putting the spotlight on the Farming Community and after a busy harvest period, offer a great day out for all the family.”
Speaking at the event, NIPA President, Mr William King said “We are extremely delighted and proud to be back in the North West for the ploughing match and for the first time, have the opportunity to host the European Reversible Ploughing Contest. The NIPA enjoys a close relationship with the Craig family with Dr Tom Craig, Henry’s brother, a former host of the ploughing contest, and we are indebted to Henry & Evelyn Craig for hosting our event this year. Ground conditions will allow a fair competition for competitors yet prove a stern test to challenge their skills over the two days”. Host, Mr Henry Craig added: We look forward to welcoming all those from across the country and all over Europe to Gorticross Farm for this truly international event.”
The two day event takes place in Drumahoe. Over 100 acres of farmland will be transformed into competition plots for the ploughing as well as, trade stands which will encompass many sectors of agricultural and rural living. Tractor Pulling will make a welcome return to the ploughing with the NI Tractor Pulling Championships forming a key attraction of the event. The Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster will hold their annual fencing competition and soil assessment with local club City of Derry arranging a digger driving competition. Both Fiddler Adam & Hugo Duncan will be at the ploughing to provide the live entertainment for all who attend to enjoy. Amongst other attractions, include indoor crafts offering anything from kids workshops to health & beauty products, plus bouncy castles and amusements making this a family day out not to be missed.
Mr Holden expressed the NIPA’s appreciation to the principal sponsor Danske Bank, plus Derry City Council, DARD, YFCU, Forthill Farms, NI Tourist Board, and all other stakeholders for their support towards this year’s event. He also welcomed NIPA new sponsors Goodyear, Agco and Kverneland.
The Mayor, Councillor Kevin Campbell said he was delighted to be part of the launch of the NI Ploughing Association’s 2012 Competition. “This is another major event for the North West region and I am delighted to welcome all international and European participants as well as the officials. I know a lot of hard work has gone into organizing this event and I am confident it will be a huge success, not only showcasing local talent but providing a fun day out for all the family. I am looking forward to going along to the Championships on 05 and 06 October, let’s hope the weather rules in our favour and we have a great weekend for everyone taking part.”
The Ploughing Match this year will provide NIPA principal sponsor, Danske Bank, with the opportunity to introduce a new name for agriculture in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the launch John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations said: "Our sponsorship of this year’s Ploughing Championships continues to build on an established relationship with the NI Ploughing Association and the forthcoming name change for Northern Bank means this year's NI Ploughing Championships will be the first major agricultural sponsorship by Danske Bank in Northern Ireland. Like Northern Bank, Danske Bank also has a distinguished history with a common feature for both bank’s being our links with agriculture and both banks having been known as ‘the farmer’s bank’. Today Danske Bank is the largest bank in Denmark and a leading financial institution in Northern Europe with around 5m personal customers and a significant share of agricultural, business & institutional customers across those countries in which it operates. At Danske Bank we also look forward to playing our part in helping to host the European Reversible Ploughing Championships in the North West and extend a warm welcome to competitors, officials and visitors who will be making the trip to Northern Ireland on 5th & 6th October 2012". This sponsorship package will again help the NIPA to run the European Contest as well as the NI International Championships which select the team to represent NI at the World Match in Canada 2013.
The event will be the climax of a busy few weeks for local ploughmen who will represent NI at the European Vintage Contest in Belgium followed by the World Contest in Croatia and then the Irish Ploughing Championships in New Ross, Co Wexford.
The event kicks off on Friday 5th October with an Opening Ceremony at 9:30am and ploughing commencing at 10.30am. Car parking and children under 16 are free and a one way traffic system will be in place around the site with traffic diversions in place. For more information please visit www.niploughing.com.
European Reversible & NI International Ploughing Championships in North West this Autumn
The Northern Ireland Ploughing Association have just announced details of the 2012 NI International Ploughing Match which will incorporate the European Reversible Ploughing Championships.
This prestigious event will take place at Drumahoe near Eglinton on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th October 2012 and promises to showcase the very best in conventional, reversible, vintage and horse ploughing with a significant number of competitors already booked from right across Europe.
The preliminary launch was held at Greenmount Campus, Antrim and was attended by Michelle O’Neill, Minister, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and a number of industry representatives including John Fay, College Director, CAFRE and Harry Sinclair, President, Ulster Farmers Union.
A number of Senior Officers from the NI Ploughing Association were also in attendance including Lawrence McMillan, Patron; William King, President; Wilson Holden, Chairman; Brian McNally, Vice Chairman; Joyce Peden, Secretary and Glenn Kerr, Treasurer.
Once again the Ploughing Championships will be sponsored by Northern Bank who are working closely with the NIPA to ensure the success of this event. Northern Bank representatives attending the launch were Robert McCullough, Head of Agribusiness and John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations.
At the informal launch guests were welcomed by William King who introduced NIPA Chairman Wilson Holden who outlined some of the many attractions planned including a Tractor Pulling Championship, machinery demonstrations, live entertainment, craft tent and YFCU competitions. He also highlighted significantly increased interest in trade space at the event.
Minister Michelle O’Neill then addressed the gathering and congratulated the NIPA on hosting the European Reversible Ploughing Championships this year. She also highlighted the many local successes in European and World ploughing championships over the years before wishing the NIPA well for a successful event this Autumn.
Speaking on behalf of sponsors, Northern Bank, John Henning said “the NI Ploughing Championships are an integral part of the local farming calendar and 2012 promises to be no exception. These championships return to the North West this year to the farm of Henry Craig with a host of rural activities to interest the entire family and help promote agriculture and the rural way of life”.
A full launch will take place at the Drumahoe match site near Eglinton during September and in the meantime an extensive promotional campaign is planned by the NIPA to create awareness of these Ploughing Championships. In addition to conventional media this will include through the Associations website www.niploughing.com and via social media like Facebook. More information, including trade stand bookings, can also be obtained from NIPA Secretary Joyce Peden on 07710 571757 or by email info@niploughing.com
This prestigious event will take place at Drumahoe near Eglinton on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th October 2012 and promises to showcase the very best in conventional, reversible, vintage and horse ploughing with a significant number of competitors already booked from right across Europe.
The preliminary launch was held at Greenmount Campus, Antrim and was attended by Michelle O’Neill, Minister, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and a number of industry representatives including John Fay, College Director, CAFRE and Harry Sinclair, President, Ulster Farmers Union.
A number of Senior Officers from the NI Ploughing Association were also in attendance including Lawrence McMillan, Patron; William King, President; Wilson Holden, Chairman; Brian McNally, Vice Chairman; Joyce Peden, Secretary and Glenn Kerr, Treasurer.
Once again the Ploughing Championships will be sponsored by Northern Bank who are working closely with the NIPA to ensure the success of this event. Northern Bank representatives attending the launch were Robert McCullough, Head of Agribusiness and John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations.
At the informal launch guests were welcomed by William King who introduced NIPA Chairman Wilson Holden who outlined some of the many attractions planned including a Tractor Pulling Championship, machinery demonstrations, live entertainment, craft tent and YFCU competitions. He also highlighted significantly increased interest in trade space at the event.
Minister Michelle O’Neill then addressed the gathering and congratulated the NIPA on hosting the European Reversible Ploughing Championships this year. She also highlighted the many local successes in European and World ploughing championships over the years before wishing the NIPA well for a successful event this Autumn.
Speaking on behalf of sponsors, Northern Bank, John Henning said “the NI Ploughing Championships are an integral part of the local farming calendar and 2012 promises to be no exception. These championships return to the North West this year to the farm of Henry Craig with a host of rural activities to interest the entire family and help promote agriculture and the rural way of life”.
A full launch will take place at the Drumahoe match site near Eglinton during September and in the meantime an extensive promotional campaign is planned by the NIPA to create awareness of these Ploughing Championships. In addition to conventional media this will include through the Associations website www.niploughing.com and via social media like Facebook. More information, including trade stand bookings, can also be obtained from NIPA Secretary Joyce Peden on 07710 571757 or by email info@niploughing.com