Strongmen tough it out in effort to lift coveted trophy
Silversprings Moran Hotel in Cork was the venue with yesterday’s winner James Fennelly following in the footsteps of legends such as Ray O’Dwyer and three-time champion Jason “Redwood” Reilly.
Fennelly, 24, an electrician from Kilkenny, also triumphed at last year’s event.
The King Fionn trophy was a hotly contested affair, with Fennelly modestly saying the day wasn’t going “too badly” when he created an Irish record by lifting 360kg, before going on to add another 20kg to his total.
Competitor Ross Tweedy, an accountant from Wexford, said he was pleased with how the event unfolded yesterday.
“A lot of effort is being put into the sport. It is great day out for families. The standard is very high.
“This is our first year holding the event in Cork and the competition is getting better and better.”
As families gathered in the hotel car park – drinking Fanta and eating cakes – the 16 entrants engaged in truck pulling, car lifting and the Pythagoras Atlas Stones Test.
Events included lifting a one tonne car, the “Daddydumbell” press, the stone competition, where entrants had to lift a 145kg stone for 90 seconds, and pulling a 12-tonne truck.
Yesterday’s event was organised by the Irish Strength Association which boasts 70 members nationally.
The association was formed in 2000, with members competing in events at national and international levels. Last year’s event was held in Portlaoise.
Master of ceremonies, Glenn Ross from Bangor, five-times British strongest man and former champion of Europe, kept the contestants on their toes – when they weren’t squatting beneath enormous weights – and kept the crowd entertained for the afternoon.
Mr Ross said he was delighted with the turnout and added that he was particularly pleased the competition was such a close-run affair, with the winner only decided in the last event.
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