Following a record-breaking first day at the 86th National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday, September 19, another action-packed schedule is planned by the National Ploughing Association (NPA) for today.
Getting the ball rolling at 9:00am, the trade machinery, livestock and general exhibition opened once again to the crowds.
Currently underway, having begun at 9:00am, the All Ireland Lamb Shearing Championships is getting down to business over at Block 1, Row 14, Stand 303. This will run until 4:30pm.
Also getting started are the sheep dog trials at the Sheep Dog Trials Arena, located at Block 2, on the Birr side of the site, for those interested.
Bandstand entertainment – situated at Block 3, Row 10, Stand 249 – started up at 10:00am with St. Coleman’s Primary School, Mucklagh.
On the competitive ploughing front, competitions run from 10:30am until 2:30pm.
- Senior Conventional Plough Class (Day 1);
- Senior Reversible Plough Class (Day 1);
- Farmerette Conventional Plough Class;
- Macra Two-furrow Conventional Plough Class;
- Vintage Two-furrow Mounted Plough Class;
- Senior Horse Plough Class.
Back at the ‘Bandstand’, the Duets will perform at 11:00am, while at 11:30am the first fashion show of the day will kick off at Block 3, Row 28, Stand 637. At noon, the Junior Hunt Chase will run – over at Block 1, on the Birr side of the site.
The ‘Bandstand’ is likely to get busy when country singer Derek Ryan takes to the stage at 12:30pm.
Next on the cards, a fashion show will take place, again at Block 3, Row 28, Stand 637, while – also at 1:30pm – the second National Brown Bread Baking Competition semi-final will start over at the Aldi stand, located at Block 4, Row 10, Stand 250.
Michael Sexton will provide the bandstand entertainment (Block 3, Row 10, Stand 249) at 2:00pm, while this will be followed by Colin Kenny on stage from 3:00pm.
At 3:30pm, the third fashion show and the ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Awards‘ will get underway at the fashion show stand.
The Duets will take centre-stage again from 4:00pm over on the ‘Bandstand’; this will be followed – once again – by Michael Sexton at 5:00pm.
Finally, at 6:00pm, the ploughing competition results will be announced from the ‘Bandstand’, after which the exhibition will close for the day.
Remember also, of course, to visit the AgriLand stand at Block 4, Row 15, Stand 340, where you will be able to meet some of our ever-expanding team.