Tug of War in Ireland

Glenman

The national season of Outdoor Tug of War kicks off in Cork on June 10th with the 700kg event. There will be six weight categories contested throughout the summer in different parts of the country, catchweight, 720kg, 700kg, 680kg, 640kg, 600kg & 560kg.
The Irish Tug of War Association was founded in 1967 and is celebrating forty years this year.
The raining World 600kg champions, Killylough, are running an international competition in Emyvale Co. Monaghan to mark this occasion. This event is taking place on Sunday the 27th of May and there will be teams form all over Europe competing.
The favorites to contest for the Division one national titles this year are Lakehill from Ballina, Killylough from Monaghan and Boley from Wexford.
Just thought you’d like to know!

bigdipper

Its looking like the same teams will still be in the shake up in 2011 as well as Mountain View/Bremore. I wonder can any of Gortletteragh,Ballygar,Slaneysiders or even Bryanstown make the breakthrough?

Glenman

I dont think that Gortletteragh will will a national senior title in 2011. The big 3 teams will win them all I'd say. Killylough are pushing on so there is an opening there for Slaneysiders & Fairywater at 560kg & 600kg. Ballygar are a good team but it will take them 5 years at least to win a senior title, hope they stick at it.

bigdipper

I think in the last few years the novice championships have been much more interesting, with any number of teams capable of winning a title. Who do you fancy in 2011?

Glenman

bigdipper wrote: »

I think in the last few years the novice championships have been much more interesting, with any number of teams capable of winning a title. Who do you fancy in 2011?

Its difficult to say. Teams who won novice championships this year will have to go up to Div 2 at that weight category. Taking that into account, my predictions for the 2011 novice championships are;
720kg - Killoughey
Catchweight - Killoughey
640kg - Glenhill
680kg - Killoughey
600kg - Ballinagh (I fancy them on home turf - it will be a big day for the club)
560kg - Rockies.

Killoughey are strong and won 2 gold and 1 silver in this years novice championship. Maybe they should be put up to Div 2 for all weights next year? There is no intermediate championship next year.

bigdipper

I think Killoughey won 2 golds (600 and 640) and 2 silvers (680 and 720) in 2010 but I could be wrong - I think they will struggle to make any impression in Divison 2 as Ballygar beat them very very easily in the 720 final this year.Ballinagh are a good team on a wet day but hard ground doesnt seem to suit them as much for some reason, so if the sun is shining they'll be hoping PJ Moore will be the ref that day! Ballyhooley,Boyneside and Saltmills are all handy enough teams as well and would give any of the novice teams a run for their money. Rockies are a nice stylish team but they seem to be always lacking a bit of power and I think one of the heavier teams could beat them with 7 men in the 560.

It would be good to see a historic roll of honour section on the ITOWA website, which would give the winners of each weight category over the years for as far back as records exist. Is it true that Boley have won the 640 for something like 20 years in a row??

Glenman

Just checked out last year's results, you are spot on about Killoughey, that is why I think they should be put up to Div 2 for all weight categories next year. Ballygar went up to Div 2 after the opening two days last year and at Div 2 they won gold at 600kg, 720kg & 640kg. Therefore they will have to pull senior for most weights next year, they might opt to go senior full stop. I have never seen a club improve that much in their first year. It will be hard for them to keep it up though but they have seen what its like at International level as they were in Switzerland & South Africa so hopefully they will have the hunger to improve more.
Pat Lee mentioned that at the AGM last year, the roll of honour could be put on the website if someone got the information together.
Boley were going for either 23 or 24 680kg titles in a row on the 27th July 2008 in Knockmore but Lakehill beat them in the final.
You seem to have good interest in the sport. You should put yourself forward to be a delegate for your province. We need change on the executive committee to bring the sport forward. We need new blood. Same faces for the last 20 years. The national AGM will take place at the end of March. The provincial AGM's should take place before this and the new delegates take up thir positions after the national AGM.

bigdipper

I might just do that (if I can get the nomination at my own clubs AGM first)! The sport suffers from a seriously bad image - most people don't even know that its a recognised sport.