World Championship Rundown

2008 World Championships Rundown 26/02/08

The Richhill team from Co. Armagh returned from the World Championships in Italy this week after the most successful event Northern Ireland has ever experienced. The club not only won the World Open Club 560kg Championships but then, two days later proceeded to lift the World Championships for Nations whilst representing Northern Ireland. No wonder the Richhill club and the entire Northern Ireland contingent were euphoric considering that such an achievement seemed too much to hope for in the week and months leading up to the event.

Yes the indoor season overall had gone well with victories at all domestic weight classes and then the achievements and building up to Italy. So serious and programmed and training that the club declined the invitation to compete at the UK Championships in Scotland. Opting instead to carry on with their preparation at home.

To say that the preparation paid off would be an understatement and indeed their long intensive winter evenings spent training near Castledillon made all the difference between success and failure.

The Northern Ireland Party arrived in Italy at the town of Faenza on Wednesday and the next morning brought the 560kilo club event, which was broken up into 2 groups being pulled on a league basis. With the top 2 teams going through to the semi-finals, Richhill made a good start against an Italian team and followed up with victories over teams from Netherlands, Switzerland, The Basque Country and the Rep. of Ireland. In the semi-final they met and defeated Carndonough and went through to meant Mountain View, also from the Rep. of Ireland. The latter were very strong and full of confidence, following their victory over Abadino from Spain. However the Armagh men were not to be denied and swept to a hard fought but clear cut victory.

Speculation then centered whether this success could be repeated at the more important closed championships for nations, which was listed for Saturday morning and which threatened to be even more difficult. The arrival of some further club members on Friday bolstered confidence and this was also strengthened when the all important weigh in was successfully negotiated on Saturday morning. This was vindication for all the attention paid to food and diet over the previous weeks and months, when it was important to have the heaviest team trained down to the appropriate weight, while still retaining maximum strength.

When the competition draw was made it pitted Northern Ireland against England in the first match, a repeat of the last World Championship final, England being the reigning World Champions and one of the most formidable teams. Richhill surprised many spectators, not so much by their victory but by the conclusive manner of it, next came Scotland, another top team and although tough the Scots went the same way as England. France were defeated rather more easily and although the Netherlands offered stiff resistance they could not match the Armagh men. Japan, Italy then fell as did the Rep. of Ireland, who had been expected to be very serious opposition, China and Switzerland were defeated to leave Northern Ireland on top of the table after the round robin series of pulls.

The top four teams went through to the semi-finals were Northern Ireland repeated their earlier victory, over the Rep. of Ireland and Scotland defeated the Netherlands. The big surprise was the failure of England to progress beyond the group stages, something almost unimaginable previously. Attention was high as the two finalists prepared for the match which would define their season and in many cases their sporting lives. The first end was tough as one would expect but Northern Ireland were always in control and edged to victory. The second end commenced with Northern Ireland on the attack and using their power to inch slowly backwards. With about a meter to go Scotland launched a counter attack and nerves were fraying badly for a time among supporters before the Richhill lads gathered themselves again for a final push, which carried them over the line.

The first Gold medal at this level had been achieved having previously being so close and the celebrations continued long into the evening and it was a fantastic achievement and all concerned have every right to be delighted.

Winning team was:

John Shannon

Aidan Brennan

Sam Rountree

Leslie Knipe

Alan McWilliams

Jimmy Morton

Davy Donaldson

Alastair Wilson

Coach- Alan Walker

Reserve- Jonny Compston

Northern Irelands weekend continued when the Country Club from Co. Fermanagh toke the bronze medal at 600kg. They had tremendous battle to overcome Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals and having done so they defeated Japan to insure a well earned third place. Our standing at World level was further enhanced when the girls of the Glens of Antrim took the Silver medal at the Silver medal at the 480kg Club competition.

Thanks to Cathal McKeever for this write up.