Laytown proves irresistible as 45 Welsh farmers stop off at the beach en route to National Ploughing Championships

A clatter of Welsh farmers taking a circuitous route to County Laois for the National Ploughing Championships were among the 4,750 racegoers at Laytown on Monday as secretary and manager of the track Jessica Cahalan reflected on a "fabulous day" for the annual race meeting.

Laytown, the only event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing in Britain and Ireland, attracts racegoers from all over Ireland and Britain to the County Meath strand every year and this week was no different with the track blessed with proper seaside weather for the six-race card.

The meeting conveniently fell the day after a tremendous weekend of racing at the Irish Champions Festival, which allowed plenty of those who crossed the Irish Sea to enjoy three hugely entertaining racedays in succession.

Cahalan said: "It was a fabulous day and the weather was fantastic. All the Flat jockeys went out for a swim after the fourth race, it was just a great day. We had around 4,750 people there and there were quite a few British people over.

"Racing breaks had around 30 people over who did the three days racing [Leopardstown, Curragh and Laytown]. We always get a good contingent of people from Britain coming over and I've already got emails from people inquiring about next year."

The National Ploughing Championships has quickly evolved into a staple of Irish culture and kicked off in Ratheniska, County Laois on Tuesday with the agricultural show expecting to attract close to 300,000 people over the three days.

Among the crowd, there could be a few Welshmen with sore heads after 45 farmers sailed over to Ireland ahead of the ploughing championships and were unable to resist the allure of Laytown.

Jungle Cove and Jody Towenend win the 7f qualified riders' handicap at LaytownCredit: Patrick McCann

Cahalan added: "We had a crowd of 45 Welsh farmers who were heading to the ploughing championships on Tuesday but after sailing in on Monday morning, they decided to head to Laytown for the day. It was brilliant, absolutely fantastic."

Trainer Ian Williams also made the trip over from Worcestershire and the Welsh contingent must have exercised their patriotism to get stuck into Ivasecret who was the gamble of the day in the 7f claimer. The first reserve was backed from a morning 11-1 into 7-4 favourite to give Williams a winner on his first trip to the strand.

"The raceday won't always tie in with Champions Weekend but it was fantastic we were able to take full advantage of that," said Cahalan. "It was great to see a British-trained winner and we're very grateful for the use of the stables at Bellewstown.

"The crowd was up a couple of hundred on last year and the place was packed. A lot of people went down to the beach last year but they tended not to this year. We're doing our analysis in the next couple of days and see what improvements we can make for next year but it's all been positive so far so we're delighted."

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