Wexford duo bid for Irish glory in Vienna at world ploughing contest

TWO competitors from the same Co Wexford club are representing Ireland in the world ploughing contest in Grafenegg, near Vienna.

It is only the second time in the near 80-year history of the National Ploughing Association (NPA) that two contenders from the one club qualified for the world finals in the same year.

And in a remarkable coincidence, all four men are from the Ballycullane club in a stronghold of competitive ploughing in Wexford.

Back in 1993, in Sweden, the ploughmen were Martin Kehoe, who won three world titles in an illustrious career, and Frank Curtis.

Martin’s son, Willie John Kehoe, and John Whelan, who are also from the Ballycullane club, are currently in Austria preparing to represent Ireland in this year’s world contest on August 15 and 16. Conventional ploughman Willie John Kehoe will be taking part in only his second wWorld cContest but he is being tipped as one of the competitors to watch.

Reversible ploughman John Whelan will be competing at world level for the third time. He finished fourth last year in Lithuania and brought home a bronze medal for stubble ploughing.

The Kverneland Group has sent the competition tractors and ploughs ahead of the competitors to Austria.

Paddy Kent, Barntown, Wexford is the Irish team manager with John Tracey, Garryhill, Co Carlow, is the Irish judge.

The Irish team is due to arrive home on August 18, the scheduled date for the start of site works for this year’s national ploughing championships in Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny (September 23-25).

Kilkenny has been one of the most popular venues for the ploughing championships, hosting it on seven occasions.

But the event has not take place in the county since 1986, with the result that it will represent a huge boost for the county. It will be held on the Woodcock and Barry farms at Farmley.

Last year’s national championships featured 900 trade stands and attracted 166,000 people to Annaharvey, Tullamore, Co Offaly.