Bronze Medal for Tom in Canada
Tom Cochrane, from Coleraine was won the Bronze Medal in the Reversible Class at the World Ploughing Contest held in Alberta, Canada.
On Day 1 of the competition, held on stubble ground, Tom ploughed a fantastic plot to finish in 2nd place, just behind John Whelan from the Republic of Ireland. Tom finished in 7th place on grassland ploughing to win the bronze medal overall, just behind Margareta Heigl, Austria with the gold medal going to John Whelan, ROI.
In the conventional class, David Gill from Hillsborough drew extremely sticky plots both days and finished in 12th place on stubble ploughing and 17th overall.
The Northern Ireland team were coached by Adrian Jamison, Ballycastle and were joined by many supporters from Northern Ireland who enjoyed their visit to Canada.
Congratulations to both our ploughmen and winners of the medals at this year's contest. Focus now moves to the Northern Ireland International Championship in October in Bushmills which will also play host to the 5 Nations Ploughing Championship.
More details and photos will be available soon on this page - for further details visit www.worldploughing.org
On Day 1 of the competition, held on stubble ground, Tom ploughed a fantastic plot to finish in 2nd place, just behind John Whelan from the Republic of Ireland. Tom finished in 7th place on grassland ploughing to win the bronze medal overall, just behind Margareta Heigl, Austria with the gold medal going to John Whelan, ROI.
In the conventional class, David Gill from Hillsborough drew extremely sticky plots both days and finished in 12th place on stubble ploughing and 17th overall.
The Northern Ireland team were coached by Adrian Jamison, Ballycastle and were joined by many supporters from Northern Ireland who enjoyed their visit to Canada.
Congratulations to both our ploughmen and winners of the medals at this year's contest. Focus now moves to the Northern Ireland International Championship in October in Bushmills which will also play host to the 5 Nations Ploughing Championship.
More details and photos will be available soon on this page - for further details visit www.worldploughing.org
Practice photos from Canada
Provinces top ploughmen gear up to take on the world in Canada.
Tom Cochrane (reversible) and David Gill (conventional) prepare to compete in Canada this weekend the 19th and 20th of July. Team coach Adrian Jamison from Ballycastle flew out with the team on Monday the 8th of July from Dublin to Calgary. The team was met with good weather after Canada having one of the worst springs on record and this was visible by the poor crops. Alberta state which is a large arable area farming over 50 million acres of land which is some of the best in Canada.
The team started training on Tuesday the 9th of July and thanks to Bob Campsall who supplied Tom with equipment and Kubota Tractor Corporation who supplied David with a tractor and using his own plough the lads were ready for action.
The soil is a black peat sand texture which becomes very sticky when wet which is creating problems for the competitors and luck of the draw may have it's part to play. The team was met by world board member William Hood on Thursday the 11th of July and he was impressed by the progress the team had made so far.
The Canadians have put on a spectacular event taking the competitors and visitors to the Calgary stampede on Saturday the 13th to see an amazing show. And on Sunday the 14th to the Rocky Mountains followed by a barbecue at one of the most prestigious Aberdeen Angus farms in Canada. The teams practice finishes on Thursday the 18th and the Northern Ireland supporters will be cheering them on, on the 19th and 20th.
To follow the progress of the team go to our facebook page
We wish them well.
Photos will be updated and available on our website and facebook page.