Irish Tug of War

There was a great turnout of clubs today for the national 640kg championship which was held in New Ross. The clubs who attended were Ballinagh, Ballinastoe, Ballyhooly,  Boley, Boyneside, Brideswell, Burren, Clonmines, Donoughmore, Farrenreigh, Four Lakes, Glenhill, Gortletteragh, Killoughey, Lakehill, Saltmills, The Shop, Taughmaconnell, Rockies, Streamstown & Stapeltons.

Boley, national senior champions at 640kg

10 teams competed in the senior 640kg event which was run in one group. Boley were very strong as they topped the round robin and were joined in the semi finals by Lakehill, Gortletteragh & Boley B. Connaught rivals Gortletteragh & Lakehill faced each other in what proved to be a very tough semi final. Lakehill were a little stronger in the first end slowly working the rope over the line in a time of around 4 mins. The Mayo team also took the advantage in the second end but Gortletteragh never lost their shape and broke down the Lakehill attack to bring the contest to a third and deciding end. The fitness of the Leitrim team proved decisive as they went on to take their place in the final with a hard fought victory. Boley easily overcame Boley B to join them in the final.

Glenhill, national Div 2 champions at 640kg

The final, a repeat of the 600kg final was another excellent contest. There was very little between the teams but it was Boley who eventually won the first end in a time of just under 7 mins. Boley dug deep in the second end as their determination won out to take the gold medal and their first national title of the season making it five in a row at this weight category. Lakehill defeated Boley B to win the bronze medal. Glenhill from Co. Cork winners of last year’s novice title added the Div 2 crown this year by defeating Ballinagh from Co. Cavan in the final.

Boyneside, national champions at 640kg novice

12 teams competed in the 640kg novice championship which was run in two groups of 6 teams. Once again Boyneside were very strong as they emerged from group 1 along with Stapeltons. Ballyhooly & the Shop qualified from group 2. Boyneside defeated the Shop in straight ends to qualify for the final as Stapeltons also enjoyed a straight end victory over Ballyhooly. This left the current top two novice teams in the country competing for the national title. The final was a grueling contest but it was the Boyneside men who won it in straight ends to take the gold medal to add to their 680kg & catchweight titles. Ballyhooly defeated the ever improving Shop club to take the bronze medal.

Ballinastoe ladies, catchweight winners and 560kg runners-up

There was some good pulling the the two ladies competitions as Ballinastoe, Boyneside & Donoughmore competed for the titles. Boyneside added to their outstanding season with a straight end victory over Ballinastoe to win the 560kg title. It was Ballinastoe and the improving Donoughmore team who qualified for the final of the 6-a-side catchweight. Donoughmore provided a great challenge for the experienced Wicklow team bringing the contest to a deciding pull but it was Ballinastoe ladies who went on to take the national title, the first in the clubs history.

See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from New Ross (Note: there are 3 pages of photos). Thanks to Pat Lee and everyone else who provided photos for the website.

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The national outdoor championships continued today in fine weather conditions in Bonniconlon, Co. Mayo. The clubs who attended were Ballinagh, Ballinastoe, Brideswell, Boyneside, Boley, Canavans, Clonmines, Gortletteragh, Grove, Hillview, Lough Arrow, Lakehill, Taughmaconnell & Stapeltons.

Lakehill, national senior champions at 680kg

Six team competed in the 680kg senior competition. There was some good pulling in this event as Lakehill topped the round robin and were joined in the semi finals by Boley, Clonmines & Gortletteragh. The first semi final saw a mouth watering contest between Connaught rivals, Gortletteragh & Lakehill. Lakehill continued their good form booking a place in the final with a straight end victory. Boley had to dig deep to overcome Wexford neighbors, Clonmines in the second semi final to set-up a final showdown against Lakehill. This was the fifth year in succession that these two clubs met in the 680kg final. Lakehill were eager to avenge their defeat to the Wexford men in last year’s final and got off to a good start winning the first end with some good pressure pulling. The local lads never allowed Boley to settle and they went on to win the second end and their fourth 680kg title in five years. Gortletteragh defeated Clonmines to win the bronze medal.

Taughmaconnell, national Div 2 champions at 680kg

Local rivals Taughmaconnell & Stapeltons faced each other in the Div 2 final. This was a really tough battle which went to a third and deciding end but it was the men from Taughmaconnell who has that little bit extra on the day to win the gold medal. Congratulations to the Taughmaconnell team on winning their first ever national title. The ladies leagues drew to a close today as the final rounds were contested. Boyneside continued their good form picking up maximum points to secure the gold medal in the 405kg league.

Boyneside, gold medalists at 405kg & 435kg

Canavans picked up silver and Ballinastoe overtook Brideswell in the league table to snatch the bronze medal by just 1 point. Boyneside rounded off another great day for the club by also winning gold in the 435kg league with a maximum 21 points. Ballinastoe finished up in the silver medal position and Brideswell picked up the bronze. Five teams competed in the second round of the youth league. Hillview from Co. Offaly were very strong in this event picking up maximum points on the day.

Hillview, winners of round 2 of the youth league

Lough Arrow were second and get 6 points while the Grove who were the hosting club on the day picked up 5 points in third place. The youth league concludes in Clonmines on the 12th of August and the final round will be very interesting with teams currently tied in the gold and bronze medal positions.

See updated league tables on our League Tables page.

See full results on our Results page.

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

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The large crowd who attended today’s national championship in Taughmaconnell were treated to a fine spectacle of pulling as the 680kg novice title was decided along with the next phase of the ladies, youth & U23 leagues. The clubs who attended were Ballinagh, Ballinastoe, Ballyhooly, Boyneside, Brideswell, Canavans, Clonmines, Cuan Rithe, Four Lakes, Grove, Hillview, Killoughey, Lough Arrow, The Shop, The Glen, Taughmaconnell, Rathkeale, Rockies, Stapeltons & Streamstown.

Boyneside, national champions at 680kg novice

12 teams took part in the 680kg novice event which was run in two groups of 6 teams. Boyneside pulled very strongly topping their group and were joined in the semi finals by the hosting club, Taughmaconnell. The Shop topped group two and they were closely followed by Streamstown from Co. Westmeath in second place. Boyneside were too strong for the Streamstown men in the first semi final and they were joined in the final by Taughmaconnell who had to dig deep to overcome the Shop in the other semi final. The final was a close contest but the hugely improved Boyneside under the guidance of new trainer and front-man, John Coyne were too strong for the local men and they added the 680kg title to the catchweight they won in Clonakilty on the 10th of June. Streamstown who were making their debut at national level rounded off an excellent day for the club by defeating the Shop from Co. Tipperary to win the bronze medal.

Canavans, joint winners of round 2 of the ladies 405kg league

5 teams competed in the second round of the ladies 405kg league. There was some great pulling in this event with nothing between the top three teams. Boyneside, Canavans & Brideswell all took pulls off each other and ended up locked with 9 points each in joint first position. They all get 6 points each and Ballinastoe who finished in fourth place get 3 points. The Glen from Co. Wicklow made their debut at national level in the 435kg league. Boyneside were very strong in this event picking up the maximum 7 points to cement their place at the top of the league. Once again Ballinastoe were second and Brideswell were third as we head into the final round of the league which takes place in Bonniconlon next weekend.

Lough Arrow, winners of round 1 of the youth league

5 teams competed in the first round of the youth 6-a-side league as the Grove youths who host next weekend championship in Bonniconlon made their national debut. There was some great pulling in this event as Lough Arrow from Co. Sligo took the maximum 7 points. Hillview were second and they get 6 points with Rathkeale from Co. Limerick getting the 5 points for finishing third. 3 teams competed in the second round of the U23 6-a-side league. Once again, Clonmines from Co. Wexford were too strong finishing in first position with Killoughey a close second. Ballinagh from Co. Cavan were third.

See the updated league tables on our League tables page.

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

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

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