Perfect Pat’s ‘pull’ off another clean sweep

THE third round of the National Indoor Tug of war Championships took place in Lordship Hall on Sunday.

The main event was the Senior 640kg and the Courtbane based St. Pats team made the short journey hoping to keep a brilliant winning run going.

Nine teams line up for a round robin format, which ensured eight pulls for each team, with the top four progressing to the semi finals.

St. Pats won all eight pulls to ease through to the semi-finals where they met Munster champions Cuan Rithe.

The other semi-final saw hosts Mountain View take on Donegal kingpins Clonmany and both of the local sides prevailed to set up a derby decider.

However, in the final St. Pats proved too strong and defeated their gallant hosts to claim title number three of the season.

The Women’s National Leagues were concluded on the dya and again the St. Pats girls won all pulls to take gold medals at 540kg and 640kg 5-a-side.

All but two of the St. Pats team are completely new to the sport, but they made great progress over the course of the three championship events to take the national title!

Next up was the Mixed 600kg and St. Pats dominated yet again to take their third title of the day.

With the national indoor season over for the women, St Pat’s focus switches to the British & Irish Championships in Mayo in February 2017, where they will compete in the club competitions as well as pulling on the green jersey to represent Ireland against teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Irelands.

Last to be contested was the Men’s 400kg 5-a-side and St. Pats again proved unbeatable taking the gold medal, easily beating Clonmany seconds in the final.

They will put their remarkable unbeaten record on the line again next weekend in the Men’s Senior 600kg Championships in Mallow.

The St. Pats Panel on the day was was Gary Conway, Hugh Óg Conway, Seán Conway, Michael Owen McGreehan, Liam Fitzpatrick, Padraic Kellett, PJ Griffin, Declan Griffin, Tommy Griffin, Timmy Kelliher, Warren Conway, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Yvonne McEntee, Emma Fitzpatrick, Carla Fitzpatrick, Aoife Mulligan, Sorcha Bayle, Helen Coyne, Rita O’Toole and Katherina Griffin. Anyone interested in trying out tug-of-war can contact St. Pats through their Facebook page or by email to stpatstow@ ymail.com.

The Pat’s women’s 540kg team, back row from left: Coach Hugh Mór Conway, Katherina Griffin, Carla Fitzpatrick, Sorcha Bayle, Aoife Mulligan, Clodagh and Shannon Conway(water-man); Front: Yvonne McEntee, Helen Coyne, Rita O’Toole, Emma Fitzpatrick.

The Pat’s 640kg team, back row from left, Hugh Mór Conway (coach), Warren Conway, Tommy Griffin, Timmy Griffin, Declan Griffin, Clodagh and Shannon Conway (water-man); Front: Gary Conway, Seán Conway, Michael Owen McGreehan, PJ Griffin.