Irish Tug of War

The national championships reached their conclusion today in Clonmany, Co. Donegal and were hosted by the Carndonagh club. The clubs who attended were Ballinasloe, Binnian View, Carndonagh, Clonmany, Cockhill, Mountain View, Stapeltons & Rockies.

Mountain View, national senior champions at 560kg

Seven teams competed in the senior 560kg championship. Mountain View who were on a high after last weekend great victory in the 600kg were again pulling very strongly and finished top of the round robin system with maximum points. They were joined in the semi final by Carndonagh, Clonmany B & Cockhill. Mountain View continued their good form with an impressive straight end victory over Cockhill to qualify for the final. The other semi between neighbors Carndonagh & Clonmany B was a epic battle. The first end which lasted for almost 5 minutes was a great battle with both teams winning rope at different stages but it was Carndonagh who won it as Clonmany were disqualified for receiving their third caution. Clonmany B brought the contest to a third and deciding end winning the second end in reasonably comfortable fashion. Carndonagh attacked from the off in the deciding pull and won a few feet of rope but the experienced Clonmany B team fought back to qualify for the final in a time of 2 mins 15secs. Clonmany B who were taking part in their fourth final of the season were hoping to convert this one into a gold medal but it was not to be as the exertions of their semi final took its toll. Nonetheless, Mountain View were made to work hard winning the first end in a time of 2min 35secs and adding the second in more comfortable fashion in a time of 1min. So it was the Mountain View men who finished the year on a high adding the 560kg title to the 600kg title they won last weekend and will begin preparations for next February’s world championships in confident mood. The hosting Carndonagh club were also showing the effects of the semi final battle as they lost the bronze medal pull-off in straight ends to neighbors, Cockhill.

Stapeltons, national Div 2 champions at 560kg

The three teams who competed for the Div 2 title were Ballinasloe, Stapeltons & Rockies. Stapeltons who had previously won three novice titles this season showed their ambition by challenging for the Div 2 title this week and they qualified for the final were they were joined by Rockies. This was a repeat of last weekends 600kg final and once again this was another great battle. With both sides on 2 cautions each it was the men from Co. Galway who dug deep to win the first end. Once again it was the Stapeltons men who attacked in the second end as they fought to overturn a Rockies team who had dominated this years division 2 winning three gold medals to-date. And that’s exactly what Michael Stapeltons men did as they were too strong and won the gold medal in straight ends to take their first ever Div 2 title leading to great scenes of celebrations.

Binnian View, national champions at novice 560kg

Only two teams competed for the novice title as Ballinasloe and Binnian View faced each other in a showdown for the gold medal. The ever improving Ballinasloe team put up a great performance working the rope back to within inches of the line only for the experienced team from Co. Down turn it and went on to win the first end. Binnian View also added the second end to win the gold medal adding to the 2 silvers they won at 600kg & 640kg. The championships was a great end to a very entertaining indoor season as the more senior teams will up their training in preparation for the upcoming world championships and the novice teams take a well earned rest.

See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from today’s championship in Carndonagh.

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The national 600kg championship was hosted yesterday by the Rockies club in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. The clubs who attended were Ballinagh, Ballinasloe, Ballyhooly, Binnian View, Carndonagh, Clonmany, Cockhill, Mountain View, St. Pats, Stapeltons & Rockies.

Mountain View, national senior champions at 600kg

7 teams competed in the 600kg senior competition. The semi final pairings after the round robin were St. Pats versus Clonmany B and Mountain View versus Cockhill. Mountain View’s disappointing season received a great boost with a great victory over Cockhill to qualify for their first final of the indoor season. They were joined in the final by local rivals, St. Pats, who were on course for a clean sweep of national senior titles. The final was a very exciting contest with the first end being eventually won by St. Pats in a little over 4 minutes. Mountain View fought back in great style to bring the contest to a third and deciding end. The third end was another great battle as both teams fought hard each winning rope as the other responded. Eventually it was the determined men from Mountain View who had the edge to take the title and the gold medal in a grueling end which lasted over 3 minutes. Clonmany B defeated neighbors Cockhill to win the bronze medal.

Rockies, national Div 2 champions at 600kg

6 teams competed for the Div 2 600kg title. The semi final pairings after the round robin were Rockies versus Binnian View and Stapeltons versus Ballyhooly. Both Rockies and Stapeltons progressed to the final with straight end victories. Stapeltons looked set to cause an upset as they won the first end in impressive style but the experienced hosting club coached by Andy Clarke dug deep to take the second and third ends and their third Div 2 title of the season. Ballyhooly also defeated Binnian View in a three ended contest to win a hard fought bronze medal.

Stapeltons, national champions at 600kg novice

The semi final pairings in the novice 600kg championship were Stapeltons versus Rockies and Ballinasloe versus Binnian View. Stapeltons progressed to the final and were joined by Binnian View who enjoyed a hard fought third end victory over Ballinasloe. Again, Stapeltons were very impressive as they have been all season and they went on to win the final and their third novice championship of the indoor season. Rockies defeated Ballinasloe to win the bronze medal.

Binnain View, national champions at youth 400kg

The three teams who took part in the youth 400kg competition were Ballinagh, Binnian View and Rockies. Ballinagh pulled well but were denied a place in the final as the other two teams were that little bit stronger. Rockies were hoping to add the 400kg title to the 425kg crown they won a few weeks back but it the the determined Binnian View outfit from Co. Down who won revenge this time round as they won the gold medal in straight ends.
See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from today’s championship in Kingscourt (Note: there are 2 pages of photos)

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The national indoor 640kg championship was hosted today by the Mountain View club at St. Patrick’s hall, Lordship, Co. Louth. The clubs who attended were Ballinasloe, Ballyhooly,  Binnian View, Carbery, Clonmany, Cockhill, Four Lakes, Killoughey, Mountain View, Stapeltons, St. Pats, Rockies & Taughmaconnell.

St Pats, national senior champions at 640kg

Six teams competed in the senior 640kg championship, the semi final line-up after the round robin was St. Pats versus Cockhill and Clonmany B versus Mountain View. Cockhill were stiff opposition for St. Pats in the first semi final but the Louth team progressed to the final in reasonably comfortable fashion. The other semi final was a repeat of last weekends 680kg semi and proved to be another excellent contest. Mountain View who struggled throughout the round robin produced an inspired display in the first end to slowly working the rope back to take the advantage much to the delight of their cheering home support. They also took the advantage in the second end as Clonmany defended well. Both teams were feeling the pain at this stage and with both on two cautions each, Mountain View were disqualified, picking up their third caution for sitting. Clonmany took  control of the contest in the third and deciding end and produced a controlled display to set up a repeat of the 720kg & 680kg finals against St. Pats. The final was another good contest but as was the case last weekend, the semi final battle with Mountain View took its toll on the Clonmany team. St. Pats were always in control as they pushed their way to a fantastic victory and their third national title of the season. Mountain View went on to face Cockhill from Co. Donegal in the bronze medal pull-off and the miseries of the Louth team continued as the ever improving Cockhill team went on to win the bronze with an impressive straight end victory.

Rockies, national Div 2 champions at 640kg

Four team competed in the Div 2 championship. The semi final pairings were Rockies versus Binnian View and Carbery versus Ballyhooly. Both Rockies and Binnian View emerged with straight end victory to qualify for the final. The final was a very exciting contest as Binnain View pushed well to within 2 feet of the line. However, the Cavan team defended well and never lost their shape as the Down men began to run out of steam. Rockies weathered the storm and pushed the rope all the way back to win the first end. The second end was a more controlled performance from Rockies as they pushed out the Down team in impressive fashion to win their second national title in as many weeks continuing their outstanding start to the indoor season. The bronze medal pull-off was an all Cork affair as Ballyhooly faced Carbery. Ballyhooly had to dig deep and proved too strong for the west Cork team as they went on to win the bronze medal.

Stapeltons, national champions at 640kg novice

Six teams also competed in the novice 640kg competition. There was some good pulling in this competition also as Ballinasloe, Stapeltons, Killoughey & Taughmaconnell qualified for the semi final as Four Lakes & Binnian View missed out. Stapeltons defeated Ballinasloe in an all Galway affair to qualify for the final as Taughmaconnell overcame Killoughey to join the Stapeltons in the final. There was no stopping the Stapeltons Farm supply team from Clontuskert as they proved much too strong for Taughmaconnell in the final winning the gold medal in straight ends to continue their outstanding season at both indoor and outdoor level. Ballinasloe put up a great performance in the third place pull-off but the experienced Killoughey team proved a little too strong as they went on to win the bronze medal.

See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from the national championship in Lordship. (Note: there are 2 pages of photos)

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The St. Pats club hosted the second round of the national indoor championships today in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan where the 680kg titles were contested at senior, Div 2 & novice. The clubs who attended were Ballyhooly, Ballinagh, Ballinasloe, Binnian View, Canavans, Carbery, Clonmany, Cockhill, Four Lakes, Killoughey, Mountain View, St. Pats, Rockies & Tara Hill.

St. Pats, national senior champions at 680kg

Five top teams took part in the senior 680kg competition with four of them qualifying for the semi final and it was Cockhill who missed out. Business really picked up as the large crowd in attendance were treated to two outstanding contests as Clonmany A faced St. Pats and Clonmany B faced Mountain View.  Clonmany A really tested the hosting club winning rope in both ends as the Louth team had to dig really deep to qualify for the final with a straight end victory. The second semi final was a great battle as Clonmany B won some rope in the first end but Mountain View responded well. Both teams were giving it everything as fatigue began to set in at around the four minute mark and with both teams on two cautions each the referee centered the pull.  Clonmany B showed a lot of determination to eventually win the contest in straight ends but almost completely emptied the tank in doing so as St. Pats awaited them in the final.

Rockies, national Div 2 champions at 680kg

The final was a good contest but the strong St. Pats team were always in control and didn’t loose an inch of rope as they picked up an impressive straight end victory and their second national title in a row. Mountain View also suffered from their exertions in that epic semi final as they had no response to Clonmany A in the bronze medal pull-off. Ballyhooly from Co. Cork faced the local Kingscourt boys, Rockies, in the final of the Div 2 680kg competition. This was a repeat of the 720kg final from two weeks previous and proved to be another great contest. Ballyhooly were in control in the early stages as they won around 2 meters of rope but Rockies who were inspired by their vocal home support responded well and went on to win the first end. The fitness of the Cavan club was evident in the second end as they went on to win revenge for their defeat in the 720kg final winning the second end in a very controlled fashion picking up their first national title of the season.

Stapeltons, national champions at 680kg novice

Eight teams took part in a very exciting novice 680kg competition. Canavans who won the 720kg championship in Carlow were the early front runners but began to tire a little loosing a number of ends in qualifying for the semi finals. Binnian View, Killoughey & Stapeltons joined the Galway team in the semis. Stapeltons who were runners-up in the 720kg championship produced on impressive display to defeat Binnian View from Co. Down in the first semi final as Killoughey defeated Canavans to join the Down team in the final. The final was a great contest but it was the Galway team, Stapeltons, who produced a very controlled display to defeat the Offaly team in straight ends to win their first indoor title of the season, a great win for the Galway men. Binnian View pulled very well to defeat the 720kg champions, Canavans, to win the bronze medal.

Rockies, national youth champions at 425kg

Ballinagh, Binnian View & Rockies took part in the youth 6-a-side 425kg competition. There was some good pulling in this event but it was Rockies who proved to be the stronger team as they defeated Binnian View in the final to win the gold medal rounding off a great day for the club.

See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from today’s championship in Kingscourt (note: there are 2 pages of photos).

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