National Championships & Team Trials, Tuam

Last weekend saw the second round of the National Championships take place in Tuam hole County Galway. The event was also used as team trials to decide the Irish Team who will travel to Bratislava in September to compete in the European Freestyle Championships. Despite a truly awful day many braved the wind and rain to compete to earn a spot on the Irish Team. Levels were perfect following a top up of rain on Friday morning leaving the hole nice and deep but still retentive enough to stick all the moves.

David McClure mid loop

Men, women and junior men all contested their respective classes with semi finals and finals. The semi finals was the deciding round for senior men to make the team with fierce competition for places and a few shocks along the way. Galway local Aran Kilory left his mark making the team at his first attempt throwing down huge moves in his rockstar to take third spot in the semis. Aran turned some heads on the day and is sure to feature at the top end of competitions for some time. The biggest shock of the day saw Conor Macken go out of the competition at the semi final stage. Conor took a joint first in last years team trials at HPP Nottingham but just missed out on finals and a place on the team this year finishing in sixth place.

Aran going big

The senior women's class saw a field of six whittled down to three to make up the women's team. Muireann Lynch , Aisling Griffin & Niamh Cleary were joined by new comers Aisling Brennan , Aisling Ffrench and Roisin Millard. On the day the experience of Muireann , Aisling and Niamh proved key for each of them securing spots for the European Championships but its looks like they will have competition for the future. 

Niamh plugging for a loop

Junior Men saw Ross Graham take a convincing win with a score that would have earned him a spot on the senior team. Joining Ross are Calvin O Brien from Laois Kayak & Canoe Club and Sean Cahill from Cork. 

Ross mid space godzilla

  Men's finals was a more relaxed affair with everyone already assured of their spots on the team with five spots for senior men. The final was made up of Shane Little , Andrew Regan , Aran Kilroy , David McClure and I who had made it through semi finals. With the pressure off big moves where being thrown down by all and a few party surfs thrown in for good measure. 

Full results are here for Tuam and the overall National Championships rankings.

A big thanks to all who helped out on the day with judging scribing and timings as well as I-Canoe for bringing down some demo boats. It wasn't an easy day with hail rain & wind but everyone kept in high spirits all day despite the elements. 

Here's a one of my rides from the day in my 2014 Rockstar with more photos below.