Ploughmen collect their awards

PLOUGHING people from th-roughout the Province came together to crown and pay tribute to Northern Ireland’s ploughing champions at an event hosted at Barnaby’s restaurant, Ballyrobert.

Before the food was blessed by Lindsay Hanna BEM, compere for the evening Steven Weatherup welcomed the guests in what was shaping up to be a great night of banter and craic.

After a delicious meal, Steven entertained the guests, telling yarns and the odd poem or two involving the visitors in the banter. Amongst the many high profile ploughing legends at the dinner was Tom Cochrane, Coleraine.

Raymond Clifford addressed the guests, thanking them for supporting charities Dementia NI, Cancer Focus, Ronald McDonald House, Laurel House Cancer Support and Rossmar Special School, raising over £6,000 for these very worthwhile causes.

The presentation of awards saw a fantastic array of silverware kindly donated by the McGladdery family, Tom Clyde, the Lemon family and David Gill.

David Gill and David Taylor announced the following winners, who received their awards from

Pamela Henderson and Diana Thomp-son (hosts for the championships).

Home Championship Results 2021/22

Vintage Lift Champion: James Adair, Ballycorr, Ballyclare;

Reserve: Gerry Byrne, Co Louth

Trail Champion: David Grattan, Banbridge;

Reserve: Seamus Crossan, Market-hill.

Classic Champion: Nigel Gamble, Ballynure;

Reserve: Jackie Moore, Bangor.

Ferguson Champion: David Poots; Reserve: Raymond Clifford, Larne.

Academy A: Jonathon Lemon, Bally-

black; Reserve: Ben Jamison, Bally-nahinch.

Academy B: David Carson; Reserve, David Taylor

Horse Champion: Lindsay Hanna BEM, Listooder

World Style Champion: Pat O’Don-nell, Coalisland;

Reserve: Allen McAnally, Ballyboley.

Special Endeavour Award for outstanding achievement: Jack Moore, Carrowdore

Best Newcomer: Michael Walker.

Dedication to Ploughing: Marc Gamble, Ballynure

Team Award: Jeffrey and Billy Cush, Lurgan.

Tom Clyde presented the final award of the evening to David Gill for his services to ploughing, praising the work of the Ploughing Academy for Northern Ireland and its members.

As Steven Weatherup concluded: “This season just past was the inaugural Home Championship and

what a resounding success it has been. The five rounds of the competition were probably the premier ploughing matches in the country this season supported by the Ploughing Academy for Northern Ireland, the Society of Ploughmen Northern Ireland, Kircubbin, Porta-ferry and District Ploughing Society and Friends of Ferguson Heritage. Warmest congratulations must go to the organisers of the matches and the awards night, and to all the prize winners.

“It is fantastic to see young people getting involved and developing their skills under the tutelage of the Ploughing Academy for Northern Ireland. All in all, ladies and gentlemen, a great night at the end of a great season. Next year we will come back bigger and stronger.

“Thank you all for your support and generosity, especially landowners Mr and Mrs Ted Thompson and Diana, Mr and Mrs Wesley Henderson and Dr Tom Craig.”