See links below for photos of the Irish teams in action over the four days of the European championships in Assen from the 17th to the 20th of September. Thanks to Pat Lee for sending on photos.
Click here to see photos from day 1 (2 pages of photos)
Click here to see photos from day 2
Click here to see photos from day 3
Click here to see photos from day 4
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Following yesterday’s success and last nights celebrations it was down to business again for the Irish squad today with the men’s 720kg and 640kg. The man introduced as the most legendary anchorman in the world ever, Mr Martin Kehoe made his international comeback to guide Ireland to an outstanding silver medal success at 720kg.
Ireland, European silver medallists at 720kilo
The Irish team had a shaky start loosing the first pull of the day to Sweden. They then recovered well to overcome, England, Latvia and the Netherlands to qualify for the semi finals in third position. Luckly the Irish avoided the very strong Swiss team in the semi final toss with the line-up being Switzerland versus the Netherlands and Ireland versus Sweden. The gutsy Irish team produced a fine display of pressure pulling in both ends to win revenge over the Swedish ensuring another podium finish for Ireland tonight. Once again the atmosphere in the stadium was electric as Ireland and Switzerland walked out for the final. The Irish dropped in well and gave it their all in both ends but the reigning world champions proved a little too strong and they went on to win the gold medal. The Irish team was Donal Conroy, Billy Wall, John McGovern, Paul Rowland, Connell Ward, Gerard Ferguson, Gerry McEneaney, Martin Kehoe and Dermot Kehoe. The Netherlands defeated Sweden to win the bronze medal.
Unfortunately the final competition of championships, the 640kg did not go to plan for Ireland. The lads never recovered from a gruelling first pull against Sweden which finished 1-1 and just missed out on qualification for the semi finals by finishing in fifth position. Once again Switzerland continued their domination at 640kg by winning Gold defeating the Netherlands in the final. Germany overcame England to win the bronze medal.
Click here to see photos from Assen
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The first day of the European closed championships began today with the men’s 680kilo competition. Nine team entered.
Ireland, European 680kilo champions 2009
Ireland began well by overcoming the Germans in the first pull of the day. They followed that up with wins against Wales, England, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy & Belgium to qualify for the semi finals in second palce. In the semis Ireland were drawn against the reigning World Games champions at 680kilo, the Netherlands. Some fine pulling from the Irish men ensured a place in the final with a straight end victory. Switzerland overcame Germany to join them in the final.
Ireland, 680kilo European Champions 2009
There was a great atmosphere in the stadium at this stage and a huge Irish support. The Irish team produced some outstanding pulling to win the gold medal with a straight end victory and were crowned champions of Europe at 680kilo. The winning Irish team was, Donal Conroy, Paul Rowland, Donal Ward, Connell Ward, Gerard Ferguson, Gerry McEneaney, Mark Bergin, Frank Egan and Robert Kehoe. Germany defeated the Netherlands to win the bronze medal.
In the afternoon a combination of 6 Killylough men, and a puller each from Gortletteragh, Boley & Fairywater represented Ireland at 600kg. The Irish got of to a bad start and entered the final pull of the league system needing maximum points from neighbours, Northern Ireland. Ireland dug very deep to pull off the victory to qualify for the last four. There they met England who were much too strong for the Irish team who were now in a fight for the bronze medal with the Netherlands who lost out to Switzerland in the second semi final. The bronze medal pull-off was a very tough pull with Ireland nicking the second end to bring the contest to a third and deciding pull. The Irish were unfortunate to loose the toss for choice of ends and it was the Netherlands who just did enough to take the medal with Ireland finishing in fourth place. The strong English team represented by Norton overcame the Swiss to win the gold medal.
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48 teams entered the final open club competition of the championship, the 640kilo. Once again there was fierce competition for the last 16 with the top two team from the eight groups getting through. Boley & Bremore pulled well to top their groups. Lakehill were unfortunate to be drawn with five top teams in their group and entered the last pull needing 3 points from Goldscheuer from Germany. Unfortunately for the Mayo team they only picked up 1 point and missed out on qualification. Fairywater from Co. Tyrone pulled very well picking up 9 points to finish 3rd in their group. Slaneysiders, Gortletteragh and Glenhill pulled well but also missed out on qualification. Bremore faced Goldscheuer in the last 16 and despite a good display lost out to the Germans in straight ends.
Boley, European Silver medallists at 640kilo
Boley pulled well to qualify for the quarter finals defeating Oxney Vines Cross from England. Boley then became the third Irish team to face Goldscheuer and finally came an Irish victory over the Germans with a fine display to make the semi final. The Wexford men faced the strong Veenseboys from the Netherlands in the semi final and managed to break down the Dutch attack in both ends to qualify for the final. Eibergen also from the Netherland overcame Mosnang from Switzerland in the other semi final. This was a dream final between Boley and Eibergen but it was the dutch team who won revenge for their semi final defeat at 680kg by winning the gold medal with a straight end victory. Mosnang defeated Veenseboys to win the bronze.
Gortletteragh continued their fine form on Friday morning by getting to the quarter finals of the men’s 720kg. There they came up against the strong TTV Koapmanns team from the Netherlands. The Leitrim men produced a fine display to bring the contest to a third and deciding end but their luck was not in. As in the 600kg quarter final the previous evening they lost the toss for choice of ends for the deciding pull and the Dutch team progressed to the semi finals. However reaching the knockout stages of three open club competitions was indeed a fine performance from Gortletteragh. St. Pats from Co. Louth put up a fighting display in the men’s U23 600kg also on Friday morning but failed to emerge from their group.
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The open club competitions got underway today at the European Tug of War Championships in Assen, the Netherlands. 44 teams competed in the men’s 680kg which was run in 5 groups with two teams from each going through to the last 16. Four Irish team competed, Boley, Lakehill and Gortletteragh pulled very well to top their respective groups but Bremore just missed out on qualification for the last 16. In the last 16 Gortletteragh were defeated by Sins from Switzerland.
Boley, European 680kilo champions
Boley pulled well to defeat Bosley in a repeat of the final for the last two years. Lakehill also overcame Vorden from the Netherlands to qualify for the last 16. In the quarter final Lakehill came up against Sins and pulled very well to win two straight to qualify for the semi final. Boley joined them there by overcoming a strong German team. The semi final line-up was Lakehill versus Fam Janssens (Belgium) and Boley versus Eibergen (Netherlands). Boley produced a great display to come from and end down to beat Eibergen to qualify for the final. Lakehill ensured an all Irish final by defeating Fam Janssens in straight ends. It was a great advertisment for Irish Tug of War and progressions made in recent years as arch rivals Boley and Lakehill faced each other in a repeat of the national final in Bonniconlon back in June. However it was the crafty Boley team with their never say die attitude who turned the tides this time round by making it three 680kg gold medals in a row at International level. Fam Janssens defeated Eibergen to win the bronze medal.
Irish teams Fairywater, Glenhill, Gortletteragh and Killylough took parts in the men’s 600kg competition in the afternoon. This was a very tuff competition which was run in four groups. Killylough finished runners-up in their group to qualify for the quarter finals. Gortletteragh produced another fine performance to join Killylough in the quarters. Killylough faced Oxney Vines Cross from England in the last 8 and pulled well to qualify for the semi finals. Gortletteragh pulled very well taking the strong Swedish team, Bjorke, to a third and deciding end. The Leitrim men were unlucky to loose the toss for choice of ends and just missed out on qualification. Killylough faced Engelberg from Switzerland in the semi finals, the first end of the contest lasted over 10 minutes but the Swiss team were too strong and they went through to the final where they were joined by Veenseboys from the Netherlands. Engleberg won the gold medal with a straight end victory. Unfortunately for Killylough Bjorke from Sweden were too strong and the Monaghan men also missed out on the bronze medal.
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Nine Irish clubs are making final preparations for next weeks European championships in Assen, Holland. The Irish clubs who are travelling are Bremore, Boley, Fairywater, Gortletteragh, Killylough, Lakehill, Slaneysiders, St. Pats and Munster team Glenhill.
Slaneysiders team who are travelling to Assen
This years men senior weights are 720kg, 680kg, 640kg and 600kg. Boley who are the reigning champions at 680kg will have high hopes of doing well again at this weight while Killylough from Monaghan will be hoping for success at 600kg having taken the Gold medal the last time this weight was contested at the World Championships at the same venue three years ago. The Irish teams will be hoping to feature in the medals in the International competitions on Saturday and Sunday after last year’s disappointing performance in Sweden having failed to make the podium in all four weight categories. Best of luck to all the Irish clubs and safe travelling to all. Updates from these championships will depend on computer/internet availability in Assen 
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The GENSB Games youth tournament took place last weekend in Penhale, England. The Irish Development squad U18′s (Eire Og) made it to the last 16 knockout stages of the competition for the second year running. A very good achievement considering that they only had a panel of nine youths to pick from, after loosing five squad members on the final weeks before departure. 41 teams took part in the competition and the Irish lads finished 15th overall.
Eire Og team in action at the GENSB Games
The competition was run in four groups with the top four teams in each qualifing for the last 16. Eire Og were drawn in a tough group which included TTV Streefkerk from the Netherlands (who finished 5th overall) and also Ebersecken from Switzerland (who finished 8th overall). The lads pulled very well to squeeze into the last 16 in fourth place with 16 points. However, in the last 16 they were very unfortunate to come up against the strong Hovmantorps DK team from Sweden who went on to win the bronze medal. The competition was eventually won by Mosnang from Switzerland. The Eire Og squad were, Sean Murray, Chris Smyth, Tomas Wilson, Tom Barry, Ger Lawlor, Daniel Clarke, Stephen Clarke, Darren O’Connor, Padraig Hannon, Coach Brian Murray, Group leader Eddie Fitzgerald and Judge Gerry Ferguson.
Click here to see photos from the event. (Thanks to our colleagues in the English association for sending on photos)
Click here to see full results
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