Record crowds pack three-day festival

NEARLY 180,000 people attended the three-day National Ploughing Championships which ended at Mogeely, Co Cork, last evening.

Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association (NPA), said she was happy with the attendances, despite heavy rain at times.

The attendance on Tuesday was an opening day record of 66,000. It was 67,000 on Wednesday and about 45,000 yesterday.

"I am not surprised because Cork people are always tremendous supporters, no matter where in Ireland we go with the event," she said.

Ms McHugh said the championships had 870 trade stands and a waiting list of other exhibitors who had left it late to get in.

"There was no way we could afford them the space they needed. We have to have a cut-off point and we will be looking at that closely next year because of the additional land we will need to stage the world ploughing contest."

Ms McHugh said the championships will not be getting any bigger.

The NPA will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year and is hosting the world contest, which will feature competing teams from 32 countries.

It will be held in Tullow, Co Carlow, on September 29 and 30 and will be preceded by the national championships on September 27 and 28.

Ms McHugh paid tribute to Dick and Maureen Forest, on whose land this year's event was staged, and said they were a wonderful host family.

She said the grounds were "buzzing" with a good atmosphere during the three days and there was also a noticeable increase in the number of young people present.

Ms McHugh again apologised to motorists who were delayed for long periods in traffic on Tuesday, when the crowd was of record proportions for the opening day of the event.

The cost of staging the championships, which were held in Cork for the ninth time in 74 years, was over €2 million.

Ms McHugh said ground conditions for the 300 competitors who sought 17 national titles were excellent.

Among the crowd-pulling attractions yesterday was a cookery demonstration by celebrity chef Darina Allen.

It was one of three major events hosted by the Irish Examiner.

IFA presidential candidates Ruaidhri Deasy, Raymond O'Malley and Padraig Walshe took part in a debate on the opening day, while Eddie Hobbs gave his A-Z of finance advice on Wednesday.

Competition results

Senior: 1. Eamonn Tracey, Carlow; 2. Sean Keating, Wexford; 3. Pat Brandon, Laois.

Reversible Test Match: 1. Liam O'Driscoll, Cork West; 2. Dan Donnelly, Wexford; 3. Seamus Curtis, Wexford.

Horse Special: 1. David King, Louth; 2. Gerry Delaney, Cork East; 3. Patrick Fahy, Galway.

Vintage Single Furrow Mounted: 1. Bruno McCormack, Meath; 2. P J Lynham, Westmeath; 3. Danny Glynn, Galway.

Standard Three Furrow: 1. Pat Furlong, Wexford; 2. Noel Howley, Tipperary South; 3. Tony Dunne. Laois.

Visitors: 1. Joe Gibson, Down.