Category: News

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’.

From early morning, the more familiar Irish weather threatened to dampen the extended warm spell Ireland is currently having. However, it held off well with just a brief light shower that was warmly welcomed by many of the ploughmen taking to the plots. It was felt that given the extended summer, the ground was a little hard-going, particularly for the Horse classes.

With traffic flowing well throughout the day, large numbers once again descended on the site in Ratheniska. This year witnessed 82,000 through the turnstiles on day 1. This marks an increase of approximately 1000 on the same day last year. Commenting on attendance, Ms Anna May McHugh stated “We are extremely pleased with the turn out today. Ratheniska is very centrally located with an excellent road network and good access to public transport. As a result, people attending can get to and from the site relatively easily and this makes a substantial difference. With good weather forecast for tomorrow along with an action packed day of trading and ploughing, we are expecting similar crowds once more”.

The event was officially opened today by President Michael D. Higgins. However, prior to attending his official duties, the President took to walking the Under 40 Horse and European Vintage Ploughing fields and speaking with several of the competitors. This was followed by an afternoon touring the sights and viewing the exhibits that is the National Ploughing Championships.

Tomorrow’s action packed day includes Fashion Shows, Brown Bread Baking, Welly Throwing competitions, Competitive Ploughing, Pole Climbing, Celebrity Cooking, Sport Stars, Music Stars and much much more. With all that is happening on site tomorrow and the expected continuance of good weather, large numbers are expected to descend on the Championships again for Day 2.