Samuel ploughs to bronze

Samuel ploughs to bronze

21 September 2016

LOCAL man Samuel Gill was a member of the successful Northern Ireland ploughing team which tasted success at the recent world championships in England.

Samuel came home with a bronze medal after competing against the world’s best in York where tens of thousands of people — including some from Downpatrick’s Lakeside Inn – watched the action. The Northern Ireland team finished with a gold, silver and bronze medals.

Competitors from 30 countries from as far away as the United States, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia took part in a 10-day programme favoured with continuous sunshine resulting in a very high standard of ploughing. 

Samuel won his bronze medal in the highly competitive conventional class on stubble land and maintained an excellent standard throughout the competition. 

Northern Ireland Ploughing Association President, William King, congratulated Samuel and the Province’s other medal winners.

“Ploughing in Northern Ireland is in a great place with our team competing at the very top in every class. The whole team worked closely together to support each other so they could get the very best from their ploughs on the day of the contest,” he said.

“The land in York was excellent. The dry, loose soil meant the challenge was higher and our team were able to compete at the top. The team deserves huge credit on a fantastic achievement.”

Listooder ploughing Society’s Richard Gill, a Northern Ireland board member of the World Ploughing Organisation, also praised the team on its performance.

He added: “Congratulations to the team. To come home with so many medals in such a competitive world contest is a credit to themselves, their families, local societies and ploughing across Northern Ireland. Thanks also to the many people who made the effort to support the team which gave the competitors a huge lift.”