Championship wins indicate rise of interest in competition ploughing
Those who travelled from Kerry to New Ross celebrated the victories of Andreas Horan in the trailer vintage class and Micky O’Halloran in the under-21 junior class. Micky’s father Michael, has been a leading senior ploughman for many years.
Eamonn Treacy, Carlow, maintained his consistency as supreme ploughing champion.
His father, John, has been national champion on numerous occasions, and has represented Ireland on the world stage 10 times, where he usually figured in the top three, and missed the gold by a fraction of a point once. He finished just a few places back of Eamonn at New Ross.
Having successfully defended his national championship at New Ross, Eamonn will represent Ireland for the eighth time (hoping to surpass his silver rose bowl for second overall in Croatia in mid-September, and his earlier world gold medal for grassland ploughing).
Continuing the family dynasty is Eamonn’s son, Sean, winning the U-21 class again at New Ross.
Eamonn Treacy will be partnered by John Whelan of Wexford in the world championships in Canada next year.
Jer Coakley of Cork will also be travelling, this time to next year’s European Championships, after his runner-up placings at New Ross in the Under-28 and overall reversible classes.
On display at New Ross, beside Eamonn Treacy’s Rose Bowl, was Jer’s Croatia trophy for best newcomer in reversible ploughing. It was his first time representing Ireland, and the 24-year-old also made the top nine overall in the world.
At New Ross, his brother Kieran won the under-28 conventional class. Also representing west Cork, Gerard Kirby of Clogagh was the under-21 class runner-up; and Jerry O’Driscoll was in the frame in the Macra class.
Daniel O’Riordan and his wife Rosemarie came second and fourth in their respective classes, while the consistent John Keohane finished just one point behind the in the vintage class winner. Others from West Cork to do well were Michael Bennett and Gordon Jennings of the vintage team; Gerard Collins, second in the Under-40 horse class; and John O’Donovan, fourth in senior horse, Tim Lawlor was fourth in the special horse class.
Leading the East Cork representation was Dave Mulcahy with an impressive second in the intermediate class, followed by JJ Delaney, third in the senior horse class, and his son Jeremiah occupying a similar place in the Under-40 class. Paddy Harrington and Jamie O’Sullivan scored well in the reversible classes.
If there was a best older ploughman award, it would have to go to horse ploughman Edward Dowse of Co Wicklow. He competed in the Under-21 class in Bandon in 1950, and is still competing, with a plough which won 11 all-Irelands for Jack Halpin.
