Ploughmen mark 125 years of local society

Ploughmen mark 125 years of local society

25 February 2015

THERE was a large turnout at the annual prize night of Listooder and District Ploughing Society on Friday as the 125th anniversary celebrations continue.

It was an evening of celebration at the event in Ballynahinch Rugby Club on Friday which was supported by Down Council. The special anniversary ploughing match had taken place in November last year when competitors and ploughing enthusiasts from across the Province descended to the Crossgar site at Rademon Estate.

Guests and prize winners were welcomed to the prize night by Society President, William Keown MBE. 

Listooder Chairman, Martin Gill, thanked Mr and Mrs Frank Boyd for providing an excellent site close to the field on which Listooder held their first ploughing match in 1889. 

He thanked competitors and judges who had travelled from across the country take part in the special ploughing match, and also to Young F

armers Clubs who took part in a fencing competition. 

Mr Gill thanked sponsors, in particular the Society’s main sponsor, JL Engineering of Ballynahinch, as well as principle society sponsors Donard View Service Station of Ballynahinch, KC Contracts of Killyleagh and CES Quarries of Saintfield for the important contribution they make to the Society. 

He congratulated society member Samuel Gill on winning the Northern Ireland Ploughing Championships last year and wished him every success at the World Contest in Denmark later this year. 

A special 125th Anniversary cake, prepared by Mrs Elizabeth Moore, was cut by longstanding society members, Dai Kennedy, Bobby Moffett and Kennedy Bassett. An exhibition of photos celebrating the history of Listooder Ploughing Society was shown to guests.

The chairman thanked committee members, Fiona Gill, Rev. Mark Spratt and Cecil Jess. Prizes were presented by Mrs Rose Boyd. A ballot and auction followed with the evening’s music by Brendan Lenaghan.