Top job for Colin Millar

Colin Millar

Colin Millar is the first to admit he does not like to blow his own trumpet but, when the opportunity arose to become the chairman of the World Ploughing Organisation, it was one he could not refuse.

Introduced to the sport by his father Roy, who belonged to the Reporoa Rotorua Ploughing Association and liked to work behind the scenes, it did not take long before he followed in those footsteps.

A passion for organising quickly developed, including a 15-year stint at president and although he was at a loss to describe how it happened his involvement with ploughing has gone from strength to strength.

"I don't know why really. It just grew and one thing led to another."

"The deeper the hole you dig, the more information you get and the bigger the interest becomes."

Lending a hand and helping people out had also played a big part, he said despite not competing at a national competitive level himself.

"I played with ploughing but have never ever ploughed in a New Zealand final or at a New Zealand championship. I have always been on the organising side of things."

No stranger to positions of responsibility, other roles have included the Middle North Island region representative on the NZ Executive, president of the NZ Ploughing Association and, in July 2007, he represented NZ on the World Ploughing Organisation board.

Being elected as chairman of the World Ploughing Organisation "is a proud moment although I don't like admitting that", he said.

"It's a struggle and a lonely job, nobody wants to talk to you and you are put up on a pedestal and I hate that."

However he was ready for the challenge ahead and had goals to focus on. The World Ploughing Organisation has 31 affiliates with the next championships set to take place in York, England, next September and Kenya in 2017.

"My aim is to bring everyone together more," said Mr Millar.

"What I mean by that is bringing people that are shy because they can't speak or understand the language into conversations."

He was also pushing hard to improve the organisation's finances.

New Zealand Ploughing Association executive officer Noel Sheat said it was a big achievement for Mr Millar and he had put a lot of work into it.

"It is very difficult for a world organisation that only meets once a year and it is very hard to get progress but he has put things in place to speed things up.

"Certainly Colin has been involved with a lot of improvements in the organisation and we are pretty chuffed."

Mr Millar was the second chairman to be elected from New Zealand and Kiwi competitors had taken out several world titles.