Austrian ploughs for gold
Ploughmen representing Northern Ireland and the Republic finished among the top nine in the overall placings behind the successful Austrian competitor, Peter Lanz.
It was the tenth time that an Austrian won the Golden Plough at the championship, which will be held in the Czech Republic next year and in Carlow in 2006.
Evan Watkins, Wales, was second, with Andreas Steiner, another Austrian, third.
A New Zealander, Bruce Redmond, was fourth.
Sam Gill, a third generation ploughman from Crossgar, was fifth in the overall championship for Northern Ireland. Eamon Tracey, from Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, was just behind him in sixth position for the Republic, and his colleague, Sean Keating, New Ross, Co. Wexford, finished in ninth place.
Northern Ireland’s Thomas Cochraine, Coleraine, a former overall champion, competing at world level for the eight time, was second in the reversible ploughing to Simon Witty, England.
A total of 55 competitors from 28 countries competed in the championship, which were held in Northern Ireland for the fourth time. William King, chairman, Northern Ireland Ploughing Association, said ploughing is one of the last great skills in the agri-world today.
The event attracted more than 25,000 spectators.
There was excellent weather and, thanks to the 250 acres of prime land kindly provided by local farmer Jim Barr, each competitor had similar plots and an equal chance at the title.
Prince Charles, who attended the opening day of the event, which also featured the Northern Ireland championships, observed both modern and more traditional ploughing methods.
He was introduced to the host Barr family and planted a tree in their garden.
The Prince watched a ploughing demonstration by world champion David Wright, Magherafelt, tried his hand at horse ploughing and met with some of the competitors.
