WEXFORD ploughman John Whelan became the first man from Ireland to win the European Reversible Ploughing Contest at the weekend.

THE brolly-free national ploughing championships, which attracted overall attendances of almost 190,000 people over three days, ended in Athy last evening.

THE 27th European Reversible Ploughing Contest will be held in the Republic of Ireland next year for the first time.