Rules & Procedures for Loy Digging Competitions

 

RULES


  1. The Loy may be right footed or left footed, traditional with no adjustments of any kind allowed.
  2. Competitors are allowed to erect lines and pegs (3 lines 6 pegs) on their plot before the starting signal, but must remove all lines before commencing digging. 10 penalty marks after one warning will be applied for not lifting lines.
  3. Competitors must stop digging when the final whistle is blown. A red flag will be put down where the last sod is turned. The competitor may then finish digging the plot. (10 penalty marks for unfinished plot plus 1 mark per foot from red flag).
  4. Competitors must leave the competition area when digging is complete and may acquire 10 penalty marks if he/she walks across his/her own or another competitors plot before judging is complete.
  5. Re-aligning allowed with the Loy only from the digging position and this can be done only with the Loy and not hands of feet. (10 penalty marks may be given by supervisors for noncompliance).
  6. No assistance from the side-lines is allowed at National Ploughing Championships.
  7. 2.75 hours is the allocated time allowed to complete a Plot.


PROCEDURES


  1. Competitors competing at the National Ploughing Championships must have submitted entry through the Secretary of The Loy Association of Ireland and paid their annual membership to the Loy Association of Ireland.
  2. Submission of an entry will be regarded as an acceptance of all rules and regulations and the preparedness of a competitor to observe them or submit to penalties for breaches of same.
  3. To commence a competitor may set up 3 lines 6 pegs 46 inches apart. The plot consisting of 2 ridges should be 92 inches wide.
  4. Senior diggers should not use a measuring tape/stick after the first 3 sods are dug in each row.
  5. When the starting signal is sounded nicking commences. All 3 lines must be nicked and the lines lifted before digging commences.
  6. On a base of 3ft 10 inches a ridge will consist of 2 sods, turned towards each other leaving a verge in the centre. Each sod should be 10.5 inches wide with a centre verge 4 inches wide. Recommended depth of furrow is 3-4 inches.
  7. Ridge length, seniors, juniors and U 25 dig 30 feet, U21 dig 20 feet and ladies dig 10 feet.
  8. Judging will be on a Natural Style of digging.

Agreed at AGM of the Loy Association on 21st January 2018 in Claremorris and signed off on at meeting on 21st April 2018


 



MARKS


2 Half Furrows

25 marks

Matching Centre Verge 

40 marks

Pack & Flesh

25 marks

Main Furrow

30 marks

Ends

15 marks

Appearance & straightness

15 marks

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Total

150 marks


SUPERVISORS AT All-IRELAND


Loy supervisors must wear white coats provided by the NPA during the competitions and must remain on plot area until judging is completed.



Qualification Criteria for National Ploughing Championships

 

  • Entry to the Loy Digging competition at National Ploughing Championships is open to people over the age of 16 years in the year of competition.
  • For entry to the National Ploughing 2018 a motion was passed at an EGM of the Loy Association on 21st May 2017 as follows:
    Anyone who was ever a senior digger and now in junior has the choice to go up to senior and 1 junior to go up to senior and no senior to go down to junior after the National Ploughing 2017 for 1 year i.e 2018.
  • Maximum of 2 senior diggers may represent each county in Senior class.
  • 1 junior digger may represent each county. Counties who don't enter 2 senior diggers may enter 2 persons in the junior class.
  • 1 person may dig in the U25 class, 1 person in the U21 class and 2 in the Ladies class.
  • Under age classes must be under 25 years or under 21 years on the 1st of January in year of competition. (Persons U21 may dig in the U25 class)
  • Person who wins the U21 class must move up to U25 Class, Person who wins U25 Class must move up to Junior Class in the following year of competition.
  • Persons must qualify for the National Ploughing by competing at a County Ploughing Match within their own county in that year. (Year runs from after last National Ploughing Championships up to close of entry)
  • Persons must have an address in the county they represent for at least 1 year.
  • Entry forms for Loy Competition will be sent to County Secretaries of the National Ploughing Association and must be filled in and signed by persons who wish to partake in the Loy Competition at the National Ploughing Championships. The completed form plus relevant entry fee must be received by the Secretary of the Loy Association no later than 1 week before they are due with the National Ploughing Association of Ireland office. (€10 annual membership of the Loy Association must also be paid if not already paid at this time).
  • Some discression will be allowed at county ploughing matches where County Ploughing Associations may allow Loy Diggers to dig within whatever category they see fit to help encourage more participants within their county and then the county board will make the final decision on who is eligible to qualify for National Competition keeping in mind the eligibility criteria above.
  • Loy competitions should follow the same rules as those drawn up for the National Ploughing Competition.
  • Some discression may be given to time within reason at county matches where Loy Association members are assisting or encouraging new Loy diggers in competition.
  • Judging will be on a natural Style of digging.

The above will be reviewed at the 2019 AGM.
Agreed at AGM of the Loy Association on 21st January 2018 in Claremorris and signed off on at meeting on 21st April 2018 in Carrick-on-Shannon.