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Europe’s largest outdoor event, “The National Ploughing Championships” is set to return to Ratheniska, Co Laois from September 22^nd – 24^th for a 3rd year given the triumph of this year’s event.  The total attendance figures for the 2014 Championship came to a record breaking 279,500. This marks the most successful National Ploughing Championships in history, smashing last year’s figures by 51,500.

The widely popular site was confirmed as the ideal location for the 2015 Championships at today’s prize-giving ceremony attended by over 500 in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise.  Speaking after the announcement the NPA Managing   Director Anna May McHugh said “We are delighted to be staging the event in Ratheniska, Co Laois again next year.  Feedback from landowners, the local community and the wider public has been very positive and all were incredibly enthusiastic to see a return.”

“Speaking also with many of the exhibitors and visitors over the 3 days throughout the event, all were very vocal about their wishes to have it staged again in Ratheniska given how well it worked as a location this year.  The site has proved popular for several reasons including its central location and surrounding road and rail network.  By and large most people travelled to the site with ease and the minimum of traffic delays.  This has certainly helped the event in being such a success this year and we hope to repeat this again in 2015.

Anna May McHugh also congratulated all of the winners who were awarded at today’s prize-giving ceremony.   Current World Ploughing Conventional Champion Eamonn Tracey from Carlow will again represent Ireland in next year’s World Ploughing Contest in Denmark.  And bronze medal winner John Whelan from Wexford will take part in the Reversible Class.

Overall Results

Click here to read overall results in a single file

Tuesday 23rd September

• Under-40 Horse Class Final
• Under-28 Reversible Class Final
• Under-28 Conventional Class Final
• Under-28 Conventional Class Final
• Standard 3 Furrow Conventional Match Class Final
• Intermediate Reversible Class Final
• Intermediate Conventional Class Final
• 3 Furrow Conventional Match Class Final
• European Vintage Conventional
• European Classic Conventional

Wednesday 24th September

• Visitors Conventional Plough Class
• Farmerette Conventional Class Final
• Macra 2 Furrow Conventional Class Final
• Senior Horse Class Final
• Senior Conventional Class
• Senior Reversible Class Final
• Vintage 2 Furrow Mounted Class Final

Thursday 25th September

• Vintage 2 Furrow Trailer Class Final
• Visitors Conventional Plough Class 
• Vintage Single Furrow Mounted Class Final
• Under-21 Conventional Class Final
• Under-21 Conventional Class Final
• Standard 3 Furrow Reversible Class Final
• Special Horse Class vFinal
• Senior Conventional Test Match Class Final
• Loy Class – U25, U21, Ladies Class Final
• Loy Class – Senior & Junior Class Final
• Kverneland Reversible Test Match Class Final 
• Junior Conventional Class Final

As the final flow of traffic from the car parks leave this evening, the total attendance figures for the 2014 Championship came to a record breaking 279,500. This marks the most successful National Ploughing Championships in history, smashing last year’s figures by 51,500.  Speaking at the close of business, Ms Anna Marie McHugh said “We are delighted with the overall attendance figure this year. The three days ran very smoothly and the feedback from early on, via social media, has been extremely positive.  Both on Twitter and Facebook, #Ploughing has been trending all week and thousands have been updating their status or uploading pictures”.

“ Traffic to and from the site has been moving well all week and credit is due to An Garda Síochána in no small part and the traffic management plan in place. With the record numbers attending, everyone expected to meet some holdups, but the traffic was kept flowing at all times with only the very minimum of delays”.

Attending today, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, took time to meet and discuss the ploughing conditions with World Champion, Eamonn Tracey of Carlow who again won the National Ploughing Conventional Competition, before hitting the track-way and exhibits for the afternoon. Congratulating the NPA on another successful year, he paid tribute to Ms Anna May McHugh, staff and the several hundred volunteers needed to host the event. He also congratulated the winner of the National Ploughing Reversible Competition John Whelan.

The hotly contested National Brown Bread Baking final took place in the Aldi tent in front of an audience of several hundred. Overall winner in first place was Ms Betty Williams from Clonmel,  South Tipperary.

Numbers attending hit an all-time record high today with just over 124,500 passing through the gates of the Championships in Ratheniska. This is an increase of 34,500 on yesterday bringing the total attendance so far this week to 206,500. Speaking this evening, Ms Anna Marie McHugh said “We expected large crowds again today given the excellent weather and positive reports yesterday, however, I don’t think anyone would have predicted today’s attendance figure. The feedback from exhibitors so far is that business is extremely vibrant and those I spoke with said sales are already well ahead of their 3 day target figures. This is very positive for both rural Ireland and the wider economy.”

In the afternoon, the ever popular Most Appropriately Dressed Lady & Gent Competitions were hotly contented in the dedicated Fashion Tent. Lesley Ann Conlon from Athy beat off stiff competition from the ladies to take the top prize and secure a luxury holiday for two to Italy, which was kindly sponsored by Insight Vacations.  The Most Appropriately Dressed Gent, sponsored by Louis Copeland & Sons and Wine Port Lodge, went to Peter Finnegan from Monaghan. He takes home a beautifully tailored suit by the award winning tailor and a weekend away in one of Ireland most famous luxury hotels.”

With clear blue skies throughout the day, shoppers and agricultural enthusiasts joined celebrities and politicians on the 25 kilometres of track way. Taking the opportunity to press the flesh, several Government Ministers, Party Leaders and elected representatives were manning their tents and pouring customary cups of tea. Some of the nationally recognisable political representatives today included Tánaiste Joan Burton TD., Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney T.D., Leader of Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin T.D., and Mairead McGuinness MEP.

With the sun shining down on all things Ploughing today, reports are that tomorrow is shaping up to be another action packed day at ‘Ireland’s Farming Festival’.