Tractor pulling at Usk

In the first event of its kind in County Kildare, the Tractor-pulling Competition at the inaugural Usk Country Show attracted much interested attention.



The event involves tractors pulling a sled along a 100-metre course, trying to drag it as far as possible. The sled has a weight system on board that moves forward during the pull and makes the job progressively more difficult.





The local event was organised by Sean Conroy of Usk, and this now extends the competition from current counties Meath, Tipperary, North Dublin and Galway.

Colm Kilcannon of Tuam is the overall organiser of the competition on behalf of the Irish Truck and Tractor Pulling Association. The year's events will result in some 70 finalists to take part in an all-Ireland championship in Tullamore on September 25.



Popular in the UK for some time, tractor-pulling began in Ireland in 2000. There are a number of weight classes including 4.5-, 5.5-, 6.5-, 7.5-, 9- and 11.5-tonne.



It is carefully regulated, with detailed weigh-in of each tractor and pull distances monitored by laser equipment.

The pull events are often in aid of charities and prizes are nominal and can also be in kind, such as supplies of oil from a sponsor.

The weather turned against the Usk show, which was in aid of Our lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, but there was a good turnout despite the rain.







More from Usk tractor pulling

More from Usk Show

Details of tractor-pulling in the national context, and the results of each event are available at www.tractorpulling.net -- the website of the ITTPA.

Brian Byrne.