North Tipp Ploughing conclude successful season

NORTH Tipperary Ploughing committee concluded a very successful year with presentations to their Novice team and their annual fundraising draw, all of which took place in The Yanks Inn Borrisokane.

For the very first time, the ploughing committee held its first novice match on Saturday March 4th on the lands of Joe Murphy, Ballingarry by kind permission. Five young people competed and they were presented with trophies during the function. Rob Duffy, Lee Hogan, Rory Spain, Claire Kelly and Cathal Tighe were all eager and anxious to impress the judges and be deemed the winner on the day. When all the marks for the various disciplines were added up, Rob Duffy of Rathcabbin was declared the winner and he will now go on to represent North Tipperary in the National Championships next September.

When making the presentations, chairman Ray Clancy mentioned how great it was to have “new blood” competing and he said his wish was to see this continue and develop over the years.

Also for the first time since 2019, the committee held their fundraising draw in public. While there was no admission fee on the gate during the championships, there was however a voluntary bucket collection held. Teas and light refreshments were also served for a voluntary contribution and when the two amounts were counted the combined amounted to €800 which was donated to Milford Hospice. Certainly, both spectators and participants were very generous on the day and Ray Clancy said he wished to thank them all on behalf of the committee. Ann Hoctor is a hospice nurse and she was in attendance to accept the cheque from ploughing chairman Ray Clancy, on behalf of Milford Hospice.

With €600 in prize money to be handed out and numerous other prizes, the annual fundraising draw brought the proceedings of the night to a conclusion. First prize of €300 was won by Maeve Shiels (Birr). 2nd prize of €200 went to Liam Mannion (Lorrha). 3rd prize €100 was won by Michael Browne (Ballinderry). 4th prize was two tickets to the National event in September was won by Gillian Hough (Rathcabbin). There were three bottles of wine and they were won by Jonathan Murray (South Offaly Ploughing), Jim Hogan (Ballingarry), Brian Tuohy (Borrisokane). Easter Eggs went to Andrew Hogan (Borrisokane), Eamon Murphy Jnr. (Ballingarry), John Milne (Lorrha), Mick Quirke (Lorrha).

The chairman Ray Clancy thanked everyone who bought and sold tickets saying that the money raised will go a long way towards the expense of running a ploughing competition.