While day three of the Ploughing came to a wet and soggy end, this didn’t distract the competitors. Competitors from a number of classes such as the Junior Conventional Plough Class, Standard 3 Furrow Reversible Plough Class, Vintage Single Furrow Mounted Plough Class, Novice 2 Furrow Conventional Senior battled for ploughing glory.

We caught up with current world champion, Eamonn Tracey, before he recommenced ploughing after his opening split. The Co Carlow native took top prize in the conventional class held in Einsiedel at the weekend.

Eamonn said in any form of ploughing in any class its essential to keep the plot straight, uniform and clean.

You have to have definitive furrows from one end of the plot to the other that don’t change in any shape, way or form

The furrows must be well-skimmed and closed in order to ensure they look smooth and even, , explained Eamonn. This is very much a precision game and adjustments on the plough will be made on an ongoing basis in order to achieve the desired finish.

Judges' view

We spoke with Waterford judges Tom Cowan and Philip Murphy about the key marking criteria in match ploughing. While there are different aspects for each class, there can be commonalities drawn between all marking criteria.

“Basically straightness is the most important of the lot and keeping all of the sods even," explained Tom.

The overall neatness of the plot is important and there can’t be any significant amount of trash left unburied. Philip explained: “You have to bury all the weeds and have no trash.”

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