MUD, WET & DEERES..

..but spirits aren't dampened as 66,000 flock to farming festival

- SANDRA MALLON

PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE: WELLIES AND BROLLIES AT THE READY

UP to 66,000 people braved horrible weather conditions to attend the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, yesterday.

The three-day festival is one of the biggest shows of its kind in Europe, but constant rain reduced the site to a mud bath yesterday.

The attendance was a sharp drop on last year’s opening day, when 91,500 turned up.

There will be no letup in the weather over the next two days, with widespread showers and possibly thunder forecast – along with sunny spells.

Ladbrokes says it could be the wettest event in the history of the agricultural exhibition.

As it got underway, Met Eireann issued a grim update for heavy rain and stormy conditions, prompting the bookies to slash the odds to 1/3 from even money that Ireland sees its wettest day of the year this week.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “If the latest odds are anything to go by, those attending the Ploughing Championships will certainly need the wet gear and wellies, as we have been forced to cut the odds that this week delivers the wettest day of 2023 so far!”

Organisers are urging those travelling to the event to purchase their tickets in advance to ensure admission to the site.

Visitors are also advised to pack rain gear and prepare for all weather conditions.

Today, the youth farming group Macra is looking for 800 welly throwers to set a new world record at the event.

The Irish Mirror yesterday revealed the highest number of people ever recorded to throw a welly at the same time was 792 five years ago in England.