HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Brown brothers of Acme, Pa., in Westmoreland County, took home the bragging rights in the heavyweight division of the horse pulling competition at the 2009 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
Winning for the third year in row with his horses Jim and Rex, Charlie Brown out-powered 15 other teams by pulling 13, 400 pounds for a total of 27 feet and 6 inches — a full pull. Brown earned $600 for his win.
Brown’s brother, Scott, came in second place, with his team of Belgians, Fred and Junior, in the heavyweight division. He took home a cash prize of $450.
Lightweight
In the lightweight division, Ira Kessler of Orangeville, Pa., in Columbia County, led a team of Belgians that pulled a load of 11,800 pounds, beating last year’s record of 10,900 pounds. Horses Louie, an 11-year-old, and Junior, a 7-year-old, went the distance of 9 feet and 7 inches to win the division, topping last year’s winner, Bobby Howard of Acme, Pa., in Fayette County.
This year, Howard took home $450 for a second place win in the lightweight division. Howard won heavyweight Best Teamster and Tom Brown took home lightweight Best Teamster for their exceptional leading skills. Twenty teams competed in the lightweight division.
