Big lift for Finn Valley with Strongman Championships on way.

By Alan Foley

Organisers of the forthcoming Ireland's Strongest Man - which takes
place in the Finn Valley Centre on August Bank Holiday weekend - hope
the event can act as a springboard to Donegal eventually hosting the
World Championships.

It is the first time ever the burley entrants for the national event
make their way to the county, away from the traditional Munster
strongholds of Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. And with Donegal having
secured the championships both this year and next, those behind the
scenes are hoping two successful stagings can lead to the securing of
the world showpiece in the next four to five years.

Last week, a crowd of 3,500 people attended a qualifying session in
Tipperary so that goes some way to depicting the level of interest the
sport can create.

The entrants - who range between the ages of 21 and 51 - will take part
in the usual range of activities that include the farmer's walk, the
truck pull and the stone lift. Francis Kirby, Dave Warner, Leslie
Steele, Gary McKelvey and Andy Larmour will form the Northern Irish
team while the southern competitors have yet to be confirmed.

Glen Ross - currently preparing for the European Championships and well
known from various television appearances on Blue Peter and They Think
It's All Over - will be in attendance. The Antrim native - who weighs a
colossal 30 stone - will be the head judge and also doing commentary
and exhibitions. Ross won the British Strongman three years in-a-row
between 1999 and 2001 and is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable
faces in the business. Sam McManus - who is based in Stranorlar - was
instrumental in the relocation to Stranorlar and is as expectant as
anyone approaching the two-day event which is pencilled for Saturday
the 5th and Sunday the 6th of August.

He said: "The fact that this is the first time ever the championships
is taking place in Donegal is great news. Now that we have secured it,
we'd like to maintain it up here as long as is possible. Should things
go according to plan, then we may look into the hosting of a world
championships. This is obviously a considerable undertaking but it's a
dream we have.

"In regards this year's championship, things are going well. Next year
though, we may make advances toward the council to ensure the event
gets the maximum publicity. I'd like to thank Jason Black in
Letterkenny for his sponsorship this year. All in all, we're really
looking forward to the weekend after next."