After stellar success from locals at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships, the season kicked off in West Cork once more last weekend with the first match of the year, hosted by the Kilbrittain Ploughing Association.

Their 41st  annual ploughing match took place last Sunday on the lands of Kieran and Theresa Crowley, Bawnea, Kilbrittain, on stubble ground.

The competition began at 11am on a dry but cool day, with 38 competitors taking part.

Conditions underfoot were excellent, and a large crowd of spectators turned out to support the competitors for an enjoyable and successful start to the new ploughing season.

Noel Nyhan, Ballinspittle, competing in the U28 Conventional class. (Photo: David Patterson)

Richard Sweetnam with Denis Cummins, both Bandon. Denis competed in the Hydraulic Vintage class with his Ferguson 35 FE Goldbelly. (Photo: David Patterson)

 The top three results and their marks for the competitors in each class are:

Senior Conventional: 1st Kieran Coakley 128, 2nd John Murphy 113, 3rd Ger Kirby 103.

Intermediate Conventional: 1st Aidan O’Donovan 107, 2nd John A O’Donovan 90, 3rd David Walsh 87.

U28 Conventional: 1st James O’Sullivan 114, 2nd James Jennings 108, 3rd Noel Nyhan 107.

Ladies Conventional: 1st Ellen Nyhan 112, 2nd Katie Hayes 102.

Standard Three Furrow: 1st Kevin O’Driscoll 95, 2nd Matthew Coakley 90, 3rd Cyril Maguire 77.

Senior Reversible: 1st Jer Coakley 123, 2nd Michael Wycherley 113.

U23/U28 Reversible: 1st Laoise O’Driscoll 114, 2nd Flor Wycherley 109, 3rd Eugene O’Donovan 99.

Standard Three Furrow Reversible: 1st Ger Lawlor 84, 2nd Patrick Buckley 78.

Hydraulic Vintage: 1st Thomas Beausang 113, 2nd Ger Collins 100, 3rd Denis Cummins 88.

Classic Vintage: 1st Leslie Wolfe 75, Edward Draper 54.

Trailer Vintage: 1st John Wolfe 103.

Single Furrow Vintage: 1st Gordon Jennings 91.

Special Horse: 1st Caroline O’Driscoll 21, 2nd Seád Ní Mhaoilmhia 20.

Senior Horse: 1st Claire O’Driscoll 20.