RATHKEALE TUG OF WAR PULLING AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GERMANY

On Saturday 24th August Rathkeale Tug of War Club Youths pullers were part of a 30 man squad that travelled to Mohnesse, Germany to take part in the European GENSB Youths Tug of War competition. The Irish squad were entered into this competition as Éire Óg and fielded 3 teams in the competition, other countries represented were from Germany, England, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and Lithuania. Thirty six teams entered this year’s GENSB Games and the competition was run in four groups of nine teams with the top four in each group going through to the last 16. Éire Óg 1 pulled very well in their group finishing runner-up behind last year’s gold medal winners, Sins from Switzerland. The Éire Óg 2 team pulled exceptionally well getting into the top 16 from their group which was very competitive, unfortunately they lost two straight ends to Stans Oberdorf in the last 16. The Éire Óg 3 also gave it everything in their group but missed out on a top four place. It seemed like Éire Og’s 1 teams luck had run out when they drew last year’s semi finalists, Mosnang from Switzerland, in the last 16 contest but the hardy Irish team produced an outstanding display to win the contest in straight ends. The lads now faced a quarter final contest against Eschbachtal from Germany. This again was a very tough challenge but the determination of Éire Óg saw them through to the semi final with another straight end victory. In the semi final the Irish faced the legendary Stans Oberdorf club from Switzerland, the team that had already defeated Éire Óg 2 in the last 16 pull. This however was a step too far for our lads as Stans progressed to the final. Unfortunately the tank was running empty at this stage as Éire Óg also lost the bronze medal pull-off to Streefkerk from the Netherlands. Stans Oberdorf went on to win gold, defeating Sins in an all Swiss affair. Congratulations to all involved in the Éire Óg GENSB set-up and on the achievement of fielding three teams. This was Rathkeale’s first time having representation in the Irish squad and with such a young squad the lads should be at the forefront again in the coming years.