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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