Pitchforks at the ready as entrants prepare for sheaf pitching challenge

PITCHFORKS will be wielded by the hordes next month in Waterford but those involved will not be involved in any violence.

Competitors will gather on the city’s quays on September 11 for the Irish National Sheaf Pitching Championships, which forms part of this year’s Waterford Harvest Festival.

Those taking part have qualified through provincial competitions and will go head-to-head using a pitchfork to hurl a sheaf of straw over a horizontal bar above the competitor’s head.

Typical weight for the straw is about eight pounds. Three chances are given to each competitor to cleanly go over the bar, without touching it, and after all challengers have made their attempts, the bar is raised and all successful competitors move on until a champion is found.

The event is being run by the Irish Sheaf Pitching Association and they invite all newcomers to come along and try to qualify for the junior competitions.

The current world record for sheaf pitching, set earlier this year by Michael O’Brien, from Tullow, Co Clare, is 62 feet. He will be competing at the national championships

Association treasurer, John Greevy, said: “We are looking forward to some fierce competition at the national championships in Waterford. The junior competition is also open to new entrants so we encourage anyone who would like to try their hand at the sport to come along on the day and give it a try.”

The nine-day festival offers a full programme celebrating artisan workshops, restaurant trails, cookery demonstrations, food tastings, music concerts and more. Celebrity chefs, including Darina Allen and Donal Skehan, will host cookery demonstrations.

The largest food market in Ireland, Amazing Grazing, will close the festival.

* Visit www.waterfordharvestfestival.ie.