Vintage Ploughing championship is on the way to Hillsborough

Ploughmen from across the continent will be trying for the prestigious title of European Vintage Ploughing Champion 2011.

There will be competitors from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland will be represented by Ian Simms from Carrickfergus, Mark Taggart from Ballyclare, Andrew Nevin from Coleraine and Mercer Ward from Hillsborough.

Flying the flag for the ladies will be Pauline Davidson from Killinchy who will be looking for success in the Invitation Single Furrow class.

In the Invitation Classic Reversible class Northern Ireland’s hopes rest with Eamon Dornan from Newry and James Fitchie from Killinchy.

Not all of the competition is centred around machines, for example, Victor Scott and Bertie Faulkner from Limavady will be travelling to County Down with their horses hoping to take the title in the horse ploughing class.

The two day event is not all about this glittering array of ploughing talent.

A team of Irish hedge layers will be showing the public how to build a fence using only natural materials.

Amongst other attractions, there will be the following, a flax pulling demonstration, corn threshing, Young Farmers Club floweral art competition, Ulster Guild of spinners, weavers and dyers, Women’s Institute, a variety of craft stalls and trade stands.

The event will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Northern Ireland Vintage Ploughing Association are indebted to Mr Raymond McKee and family and Mr Jim Law and Family for the use of lands for the event.

The Association would also like to thank the Department of Rural and Agricultural Development, Lisburn City Council, Ulster Bank and all other sponsors for their kind assistance.