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Planning for this year’s National Ploughing Championship is facing its “first real bump in the road”, according to chief organiser Anna-Marie McHugh.
New Government restrictions are due to be lifted on 13 September – two days before the first day of the competition – but McHugh said the new restrictions had stalled planning and a full review would have to be done again.
Outdoor events are reduced from 200 to 15 people and sporting events must be held behind closed doors under new Government advice.
“We have to consider whether we’ll hold all classes that week or the week after, or even postpone the event for a few weeks,” McHugh told the Irish Farmers Journal. “If it’s concluded that we’re putting people’s health and safety at risk it won’t go ahead. But we haven’t run out of time yet and we’re aiming to have a decision made by the end of next week.”
She added that if the event did go ahead as planned it would strictly be behind closed doors with no spectators.
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