Irish Challenge 2010

It was late on Friday night when the Masters team arrived at Dublin Airport for the Masters Irish Challenge. Nicola flying in from Glasgow and Sam, Abbie and Paul from Manchester had a few Magners before being picked up by the lovely Marie and heading to bed for the night.

It was an early start for the team on the Saturday as they headed to the Auchnamullen GAA Club in Castleblayney to set up for the day’s competition.  After a slight panic over the layout of the room, and a quick change about thanks to the incredibly helpful staff members, everything was ready to go and it was time to open the doors.

Staff for the day included our DJ, Tommy Weafer, MC Damian Brady, Floor Co-ordinator Elaine Fox, Door – Sharon Kennedy, Comp Runner, Jason Hill, Comp Registration Rosita Shekelton, Scrutineer, Sam Robins and of course our judges Nicola Lafferty, Ann Cuningham, Lee Easton, James McLauchlan and apprentice judging were Paul Culshaw and Abbie Ingram.

Competition started for the day with Pro-Am.  The numbers are continually increasing in this division, with the first heat of the year being no exception and our pros, James, McLauchlan, Lee Easton and Fred Whitehouse, got us off to a great start to the day.

Line dance heats followed the pro am as the Irish competitors battled it out for a place in the Finals.  The atmosphere for the finals was amazing.  The support that the Irish show to the competitors is second to none.  The Starter & Rugrats divisions had the Irish screaming their support, and even some of the club’s footballers came in to see what was happening and couldn’t believe they were witnessing line dancing.

The standard of competition was unbelievably high and left the judges struggling to try and place everyone.  Scores in, and Sam had the results ready to go in record time.  With teddy bears for our Primary dancers and trophies and certificates for all, the competition day ended with smiles and some tears as people either headed home or stayed for the Social.

With DJ’s Tommy Weafer and Nicola Lafferty ready to play music until the wee small hours, the social began.  Requests were played for all, and some party tracks too (Paul Culshaw’s YMCA was a sight to behold!); people from the club drifted in, as well as a crowd of young footballers who again, couldn’t believe that this was line dancing!

The first qualifier of the Competition year over and everyone headed to bed, tired but happy!

Look out for the next Masters Heat in Ireland, the Irish Masters, Sat 11^th June, The Fairways Hotel, Dundalk!.