Irish Tug of War

The fourth round of the national outdoor championships took place yesterday in Ballyhooly, Co. Cork. The clubs who attended were Coneel, Boyneside, Harps, Rockys, Ballinagh, Knockanore, Clonmines, Ballyhooly, Gills, Stapeltons, Cappoquin, Knights, Canavans, Saltmills and Glenhill. The titles up for decision were the 600kg novice & catchweight novice, the ladies 5-a-side league kicked off while the U23 5-a-side league concluded.

Canavans, winners of the ladies 5-a-side

The first round of the ladies 5-a-side league was a very exciting event with Munster league winners Cappoquin and the pride of Connaught, Canavans favourites to top the table on day one. It was the ladies from near Tuam in Co. Galway who travelled south to the backing vocals of their hometown band the Saw Doctors ”to win just once” who produced a fine display to overcome their Munster rivals on this occasion. The ladies from Glenhill finished third while the Knights finished fourth. A huge congratulations to all the ladies teams who took part, the league will conclude in New Ross on the 2nd of August.

Rockys, winners of the U23 5-a-side league

The U23 5-a-side league reached its conclusion. Rockys from Co. Cavan who topped the table in Monaghan two weeks ago continued their domination and produced another fine display to win the league. Glenhill from Co. Cork finished second in the league while Harps also from Cork came in third.

Ballyhooly, novice 600kg national champions

Nine teams took part in the 600kg novice competition which was run in one straight group. The teams who qualified for the semi finals were Ballinagh & Rockys both from Co. Cavan, Gills from Co. Galway and local team, Ballyhooly. Ballinagh overcome their Ulster rivals Rockys in the first semi final while Ballyhooly overcame Gills to join the Cavan team in the final. Ballinagh’s exertions in the semi final proved decisive and the Ballyhooly team produced a great performance to take the 600kg title with a third end victory much to the delight of the cheering home support in attendance. Rockys defeated Gills to claim third position.

Harps, novice catchweight national champions

Eleven teams took part in the novice catchweight event which was run in two groups. The semi final pairing were Clonmines versus Harps and Cappoquin versus Canavans. Cork team Harps overcame their Wexford rivals, Clonmines to reach the final while Canavans who were hoping to emulate their ladies team’s success overcame Cappoquin from Co. Waterford to claim the oher final position. Again it was the Cork outfit, Harps who emerged victorious in the final defeating Canavans to win the catchweight title. Cappoquin defeated Clonmines to claim third position.

Check out full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from yesterday’s national championship in Ballyhooly (note: there are two pages of photos)

Well done to the Ballyhooly club on hosting this very successful event. Thanks to Denis Dunlea, Niamh Dunlea and Pat Lee for sending me results, report and photos in my absence.

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The third round of the national outdoor championship was hosted today by the Killylough club at the Clontibret vintage rally in Co. Monaghan. This was another sucessful competition with seventeen clubs taking parts. The large crowd in attandance were treated to some top class Tug of War despite some heavy showers of rain.

Killylough, national senior champions at 600kg

The clubs who competed were, Boley, Ballinagh, Bremore, Creewood, Carbery, Donoughmore, Fairywater, Grove, Gortletteragh, Harps, Killylough, Lakehill, St. Pats, Tara Arms, Urnaidhe, Rockys and Slaneysiders. Fifteen clubs took part in the senior 600kg which was run in two groups. Host club Killylough pulled well to top their group and were joined in the semi finals by Bremore from Dublin with Boley and Lakehill just missing out on qualification. Gortletteragh from Co. Leitrim and Fairywater from Co. Tyrone emerged from group two. Killylough easily overcame Fairywater to qualify for the final while the contest between Gortletteragh and Bremore was a gruelling affair which went to a third end. Gortletteragh showed a huge amount of determination in the deciding end to qualify for the final, their first ever national final at outdoor level.

Slaneysiders, national Div 2 champions at 600kg

The final between Killylough and Gortletteragh was an even contest with both ends lasting over four minutes but the host club were just too strong for the men from Leitrim and they went on to win the gold medal and their first national title of the season. Bremore overcame Fairywater to win the bronze medal. Slaneysiders from Co. Wexford pulled well to qualify for their third Div 2 final in a row and were joined by St. Pats who emerged from the other group. The Wexford men who had fallen at the final hurdle on the previous two Sundays were not to be denied on this ocassion and produced a fine performance to take the gold medal in a thrilling three end contest, congratulations to the lads on their first ever national title victory.

St Pats, national U23 champions at 620kg

St. Pats and Tara Arms qualified for the final of the U23 620kg competition. The Pats mens who looked strong throughout the competition were not to be denied and they produced a good display to win their second U23 title of the season. The first of two 5-a-side U23 competitions also took place today. This competition was introduced to allow pullers from clubs who can not field eight at U23 compete at national level.

Rockys, winners of the U23 5-a-side

The competition was a good success with the Rockys club from nearby Co. Cavan finishing top with Urnaidhe from Co. Carlow finishing runners-up.  Harps who travelled all the way from Co. Cork were third. The league will conclude in Ballyhooly, Co. Cork on the 19th of July.

Check our Results page for full results from todays national championship.

Click here to see photos from todays national championship in Co. Monaghan (note: there are two pages of photos)

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