World Ploughing Championships

The World Ploughing Organisation has been praised for effectively promoting, developing and delivering high quality match ploughing competitions world wide.

Pat Toal, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, who paid the tribute, was speaking at a reception to mark the beginning of the 51st World Ploughing Championships at Ballykelly, Co Derry, yesterday.

The event continues today.

Mr Toal said Northern Ireland had a proud record of competing in World Ploughing Championships, winning on eight occasions and finishing runner up four times.