Irish Tug of War

The novice 640kg & catchweight championships took place at Ballyhooly, Co. Cork today as well as the third round of the ladies league. The teams who competed were, Ballinagh, Ballyhooly, Boyneside, Cappoquin, Clonmines, Connemara, Cuan Rithe, Doyles Corner, Glenhill, Gills, Harps, Killoughey, Knockanore, North Clare, Rockies, Stapeltons, Saltmills, Tatch Bar  & Taughmaconnell.

Killoughey, national champions at 640kg novice

Fourteen teams took part in the 640kg competition which was run in two groups of seven teams. The teams who qualified for the semi finals were Ballyhooly, Clonmines, Glenhill & Killoughey. Arch rivals, Ballyhooly and Glenhill faced each other in the first semi final with Glenhill winning in straight ends. Killoughey also enjoyed a straight end victory over Clonmines from Co. Wexford in the other semi final. Killoughey continued their fine form from last week when they won the 680kg open by defeating local team, Glenhill in two straight ends to win their first ever national title. Well done to the Offaly men. Clonmines defeated host club, Ballyhooly to win the bronze medal.

Ballinagh, national champions at novice catchweight

Eight clubs competed in the catchweight competition, this was also run in two groups. The teams who qualified for the semi finals were Ballinagh, Boyneside, Cappoquin & Saltmills. In the first semi final Ballinagh defeated Waterford club, Cappoquin to qualify for the final. Boyneside from Co. Offaly joined the Cavan men in the final as they overcame Saltmills from Co. Wexford. Ballinagh pulled very strongly in the final and they went on to win the gold medal and their first national title of the season with a straight end victory over the men from Offaly. Cappoquin defeated Saltmills to win the bronze medal.

Connemara, leaders of the 435kg ladies league

The third round of the ladies leagues also took place with five teams competiting in each. Tatch Bar were very strong on the day as they took maximum points in both weights. The Galway team now enjoy a 7 point cusion at the top of the 405kg league going into the final day with Ballinagh in second place. Connemara, also from Co. Galway finished in second place in the 435kg league but maintain an 8 point cushion going into the final day which they will host in Lettermore, Co. Galway on Sunday the 22nd of August. See our Ladies Development page for the updated tables and further information.

See our Results page for full results from today’s national championship in Ballyhooly.

Click here to see photos from today’s national championship in Ballyhooly (note: there are 2 pages of photos). Thanks to the legend, Pat Lee for sending on report & photos.

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The fourth round of the national Tug of War championship took place today at the Streete Vintage Rally in Co. Westmeath.

Lakehill, national senior champions at 720kg

This was another hugely successful championship with ninteen clubs attending, these were, Ballinagh, Ballygar, Bryanstown, Brideswell, Boley, Boyneside, Clonmines, Coneel, Connemara, Doyles Corner, Gortletteragh, Killylough, Killoughey, Lakehill, Lavalley, Slaneysiders, Stapeltons, Rocky’s and Tatch Bar. Twelve teams took part in the senior 720kg competition which was run in two groups of six. Lakehill and Killylough qualified from group 1 while Boley and Gortletteragh qualified from group 2. Connaught rivals, Gortletteragh & Lakehill faced each other in the first semi final with Lakehill qualifing for the final with a straight end victory. Boley also enjoyed a straight end victory over Killylough in the other semi final to set up a final with Lakehil, the seventh meeting of these two clubs in a national final in three years. 

Ballygar, national Div 2 champions at 720kg

Boley struggled to cope with Lakehill’s pressure in the first end as the Mayo team won the pull in just under three minutes. The second end was a great battle as Lakehill began to move the rope back, the Wexford team responded well to recover. The cracks were beginning to show at this stage and with both teams on two cautions each, Lakehill were disqualified for locking to set up a third and deciding pull. Lakehill dropped in well in the deciding end showing a lot of determination to move the rope back to take the victory, their third national title of the season. Killylough enjoyed a straight end victory over Gortletteragh to win the bronze medal. 

Ballinagh, first place in the Int novice league

The Div 2 final was an all Connaught affair between Ballygar from Galway and Lavalley from Mayo. The impressive Ballygar team proved too strong for Lavalley as they won their second Div 2 title in a row with a straight end victory. Ballinagh from Co. Cavan and Clonmines from Co. Wexford contested the final of round two of the intermediate novice league. Ballinagh won this contest to stamp their authority at the top of the table with two days of the league remaining. Mountain View from Co. Meath and Clonmines contested the final of of round two of the youth 6-a-side league.

Clonmines, first place in the youth 6-a-side league

The Wexford team were not to be denied on this occasion as they took top spot in the league table with three rounds remaining. The second round of the ladies leagues also took place. Tatch Bar from Co. Galway stamped their authority on the 405kg league taking first place as they move 4 points clear of Ballinagh in second position. Connemara, also from Co. Galway have moved 5 points clear in the 435kg league with a first place finish with Boyneside from Co. Offaly in second place. The ladies league will continue next weekend in Ballyhooly, the venue for the finale has yet to be decided. See league tables on our Ladies Development page.

Tatch Bar, first place in the ladies 405kg league

Seven teams took part in the 680kg non-championship novice competition. There was some fine pulling in this event as Brideswell, Doyles Corner, Killoughey and Stapeltons qualified for the semi finals. Stapeltons from Co. Galway and Killoughey from Co. Offaly faced each other in the final. This was a good contest which went to a deciding pull, but it was the impressive Killoughey team who won the gold medal, a great performance in only their third outing at national level. Brideswell defeated Doyles Corner to win the bronze medal.

See full results from today’s national championship on our Results page.

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

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The third round of the outdoor championships took place today the Clontibret Vintage Rally in Co. Monaghan. The teams who attended were Ballinagh, Ballygar, Boley, Bryanstown, Boyneside, Clonmines, Donoughmore, Doyles Corner,

Killylough, national senior champions at 600kg

Fairywater, Glenhill, Gortletteragh, Grove, Killylough, Lakehill, Mountain View, The Lodge, Slaneysiders and Rocky’s. Eighteen teams took part in the 600kg competition which was run in two groups of eight. Gortletteragh and Lakehill qualified for the semi finals from group 1 with Slaneysiders from Co. Wexford just missing out. Killylough and Boley qualified from group 2. Killylough were very strong and they produced a fine display to defeat Lakehill to qualify for the final. Gortletteragh pulled strongly in the other semi final to defeat Boley in straight ends to set up a repeat of last year’s 600kg final. There was little between the teams in the first end of the final with Killylough just having the edge.

Ballygar, national Div 2 champions at 600kg

Gortletteragh produced a determined display in the second end taking a few steps from the Monaghan team but were unable to break them down as Killylough defended well. Eventually it was the experienced hosting club who took the title to stamp their authority on the Irish leightweight seen. Boley edged out Lakehill in a well matched contest to win the bronze medal. Ballygar from Co. Galway who have dominated the novice seen recently qualified for the Div 2 final where they came up against Glenhill from Co. Cork. The Galway team who decided to step up to Div 2 produced another strong display to overcome the Cork team in straight ends to win the gold medal. Ballinagh from Co. Cavan took maximum points in the first round of the 655kg novice Intermediate league with Clonmines from Co. Wexford finishing second.

Clonmines, national U23 champions at 620kg

Doyles Corner from Co. Galway and Clonmines contested the final of the U23 620kg championship. Clonmines continued their good form at U23 as they added this title to the 640kg title they won two weeks ago. Five teams took part in the in the 435kg non-championship ladies competition. There was some even pulling in this event as Boyneside from Co. Offaly and Ballinagh qualified for the final.

Ballinagh, winners of the 435kg ladies competition

Ballinagh ensured a great day for the club with an impressive straight end victory over the Offaly ladies to win the gold medal. The ladies 405kg & 435kg leagues will continue next week in Rathowen.  

See our Results page for full results from the national championship in Clontibret.

Click here to see photos from the national championship in Clontibret.

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