John Leavy and 'Pure Mule' (named after the RTÉ programme set in Offaly) in action.

Tractors the big pull at Abbeylara Field Day

Regulars at Abbeylara Field Day will be familiar with the excitement of tractor pulling, one of the main attractions at the well established annual event.

John Leavy from Ardagh in Longford is a 2014 all Ireland title holder in what is a specialised discipline at the wheel of ‘Pure Mule’, a machine he built from a standard farm tractor.

“I’ve had an interest in tractor pulling for a long time,” said John, who runs Leavy Auto Repairs in Ardagh.

“About five years ago I decided I wanted to get it done, so I spent 12 months building that tractor in my own garage.”

John started with the standard tractor and stripped it down completely and using a V8 engine from a Scania truck, upped the horsepower from the standard engine’s 80hp to what it is now – around 1000hp.

“I changed the injector pumps and fitted a bigger turbo, and made modifications to the gearbox,” John said.

The tractor is capable of “36kmh flat out”, but speed is not the point, John explained. “You take off in top gear at full revs, 3,500rpm. Any other gear is too low when the pan hits.”

The sleigh the tractor pulls has a weight box on top moves forward as tractor proceeds up the course, pressing down on the blade that slides across the ground, and digging it in more and more.

“What your trying to do is lift it and pull it at the same time,” said John, explaining the technical challenge and the reason he needs an engine with 1,000hp (although that is a modest output compared to some of the machinery on mainland Europe).

On the Irish Tractor Pulling Committee (ITPC) website, details of the classes include the following: 3.5 Ton Farm Sport Class; 3.5 Ton Super Farm Sport Class; and 4.0 Ton Modified Class; plus various Farm Stock Classes, defined by weight, and standard farm tractors are welcome to “turn up, get weighed in and give it a go”, said John.

The event in Abbeylara on June 12 is the first round of the official ITPC Championships. Tractors are welcome but must be weighed in before midday, when pulling is due to commence.

Apart from the tractor pulling, there will be a display of vintage cars, tractors and motorbikes at Abbeylara Field Day. Other attractions include an auto jumble, car book sale and auction and midget car racing, in association with Motorsport Ireland.

Non-motor attractions include a dog show, wellie throwing, best dressed lady, a fun fair, face painting, food stalls and trade stands. There will be demonstrations of sheep dog handling and threshing and music on the field from 3pm.

The main sponsors are Crawford’s Bar, and, as always, it looks like being a great family day out. Proceeds from the event go to Abbeylara Parish Centre. Admission is €10 (children free). Call 086 885 5189 with queries.