News Archives - Page 19 of 19 - National Ploughing Association

Coca-Cola HBC Ireland Sponsorship

Posted on 09/07/2014 by National Ploughing Association

NPA Are Delighted To Renew Long-Standing Partnership With Coca-Cola HBC Ireland At This Year’s Ploughing Championship.

Following over 20 successful years as partners, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland will again be this year’s 83rd National Ploughing Championships soft drinks sponsor. This is a major undertaking, as over 160,000 Coca-Cola products are due to be consumed by visitors throughout the course of the 3 days.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch Coca-Cola HBC Ireland Sponsorship Manager Robert Crabbe said “We are delighted to be continuing our long standing partnership with the National Ploughing Championships which has been in place for over 20 years. The 2016 Championships look to be bigger and better than ever and we are excited to be partnering with one of Irelands largest outdoor events. Just like the Coca-Cola HBC Ireland product range, the National Ploughing Championships provides a wide range of choice and variety for everyone. ”

(l-r) Coca-Cola HBC Ireland Sponsorship Manager Robert Crabbe, Anna May McHugh Managing Director NPA and Coca-Cola HBC Events Manager Cathal Garvey

Excitement will be high as hundreds of acres will be ploughed over the 3 days with over 300 entrants from all around the country competing in the National Ploughing competition, and 30 competitors from 10 countries around the world will compete in the European Vintage Ploughing Championships.
With machinery demonstrations, a Forestry Village complete with Husqvarna Pole Climbing, Pony Games, Live Entertainment, Tented Trade and Leader villages, a Food Fayre, a National Brown Bread making competition, Fashion Shows, a revamped Innovations Arena, prizewinning animals andlots more, Ireland’s Farming Festival is not to be missed. Tickets are now available by calling the National Ploughing Association on 059 8625125 or by clicking here.

Ploughing Brochure Launch

Posted on 03/07/2014 by National Ploughing Association

All stand space full for 2014 Championships.

The National Ploughing Association and Bank of Ireland have launched a promotional brochure giving details of the upcoming 83rd National Ploughing Championships taking place from 23rd, 24th and 25th of September in Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois. Ireland’s Largest Outdoor Event is making a return visit to the location following the success of last year’s Championships.

Sean Farrell, Head of Agriculture at Bank of Ireland Business Banking said: “We are delighted to be part of and sponsor The National Ploughing Championships again this year. We will have our stand at the event again this year and we look forward to meeting with new and existing customers at what I am sure will be another great National Ploughing Championships”. Also present were host farmer David Carter, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh and NPA Chairman PJ Lynam.

This year will see an array of new and exciting exhibitor’s as well as hundreds of veteran companies showcasing their products and services. A revamped Innovations Arena, complete with consultation booths and a forum centre will be available for all. Enterprise Ireland will be providing staff to assist with general enquiries, the Patent’s Office will have a stand and Toplink.ie will be offering media campaign advice.

Leader Village will again be presenting entrepreneurs, businesses and a variety of groups supported by Leader, exhibiting a fantastic diversity of products and services all under one roof. Laois County Council will be showcasing the best of the economic, social and cultural services that Laois has to offer.

Returning to the show this year will be the tremendously popular Tented Trade Village with demand necessitating all marquees this year to be of the large type.

Already the Food Fayre looks like it will be extended this year with Bord Bia and an array of artisan food producers showcasing their wares. The Forestry Village will feature the Husqvarna Pole Climbing, Advisory Authorities and many of the services associated with this sector.

The 2014 Championships sees the return of the incredibly popular fashion shows featuring fashion items for all ages.
A number of new and exciting initiatives in the Agricultural Machinery Sector are at the planning stage and will add an interesting dimension to the arena. The motor industry will also be significantly represented with many large stands.

The Livestock Arena promises to be a huge attraction this year with many very valuable prizewinning animals on show. At the centre of this Arena the Lely Robotic Milking Demonstrations is set to attract thousands of visitors again from both the farming and non-farming communities.

In the ploughing stakes a particularly strong programme has attracted entries from all around the country and Northern Ireland bringing the number preparing to plough in Laois to over 300 for the 3 days.

There are also 30 competitors expected from 10 countries around the world to compete in the European Vintage Ploughing Championships that will also take place at the site in Ratheniska from Tuesday 23rd of September.

Exhibition Space is at a premium at this stage with the NPA Site Team starting to mark out the Trade Arena from early August, this is expected to exceed the size of the 2013 Championships.

The National Ploughing Association and Bank of Ireland have launched a promotional brochure giving details of the upcoming 83rd National Ploughing Championships taking place from 23rd, 24th and 25th of September in Ratheniska, Stradbally, Co Laois (l-r) host farmer David Carter, NPA Chairman PJ Lynam, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh and Susan Maher Agri-development Bank of Ireland.

WXN Top 25 Awards

Posted on 27/06/2014 by National Ploughing Association

Congratulations to trailblazer Anna May McHugh who has been awarded as one of Ireland’s most powerful and influential women pictured with Maura McLaughlin partner in Arthur Cox

Brown Bread Baking Competition

Posted on 22/06/2014 by National Ploughing Association

Huge Interest As Hundreds Enter The National Brown Bread Baking Competition. Prize Fund Worth Over €7,000

The National Brown Bread making competition has sparked great interest throughout the country as 421 bakers from every county in Ireland have entered, breads of a seriously high quality, to be named as “The Best Brown Bread Baker” in Ireland at this year’s Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois. The twenty seven individual county winners will now qualify for the Regional Final in An Grianán in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth on 14th August where the top 2 from each province will be selected to go to the Ploughing Championships for the semi-finals and final in the Aldi Marquee. The NPA are delighted that the National Brown Bread Baking Competition is making a comeback to the Ploughing for the first time since 1991. In association with the ICA and the generous sponsorship of Aldi this exciting project is taking shape. The prize pot is huge with €2,000 in Aldi Vouchers going to the overall “breadwinner”. The runner-up will receive €1,000, third €500, 4th €300 and the other 4 semi-finalists €200 all in Aldi Vouchers. All 27 County Winners will receive a €100 voucher which brings the prize fund to a figure of over €7,000.

FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION:

Two winners from each province will qualify to compete in the semi-finals at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2014 where the competition will take place in front of a live audience. There will be 2 semi-final heats over Tuesday 23rd/Wednesday24th September. The contestants placed first and second in each heat will qualify for the final on Thursday 25th September in the Aldi Tent at the National Ploughing Championships.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION:

Each competitor will produce a home baked cake using not less than 10 oz of wholemeal and not more than 6 oz of white flour. Competitors can use any ingredients they please provided they keep the above proportion of wholemeal to white flour. A 2 lb loaf tin or round tin can be used.
Professionals and staff members are excluded from competing.
COMPETITORS NOTE: For the National Semi-Finals and Final, competitors will be obliged to use the ingredients supplied by Aldi. Competitors may bring their own baking tin.
THE JUDGES DECISION IN ALL COMPETITIONS SHALL BE FINAL AND BINDING ON ALL COMPETITORS AND THE FACT OF ENTERING SHALL BE DEEMED AN ACCEPTANCE OF THIS RULE.

Click here to see County Final Dates and Venues