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Pair pushing (and pulling) for gold (15 februari 2006) Conor Bruton (left) and Mark Bergin from Bellewstown are eyeing a world tug-of-war title Sean Wall IF Bellewstown native Conor Bruton ever makes it to Mastermind and Magnus Magnusson asks him his specialised subject, his answer will undoubtedly be Tug-of-war. It is also his specialised sport and Bruton – along with another Bellewstown man, Mark Bergin – will attempt to win back-to-back world titles when the World Indoor Championships commence at the Glen Eagles, Killarney, on February 23. Two years ago at the World finals in Glasgow, wearing the colours of the Bremore Farmers, Bruton and Bergin were two of the main men as the Balbriggan-based team defeated Spanish opponents Betigatze in the 560kg division to win the gold medals. Two days after that championship win Bruton wore the Ireland vest for the first time in the national competition and helped his country to second place in the world. Bruton will be hoping that history repeats itself when the 2006 championships get under way, but this time he’s pulling for the Hackballscross-based St Patrick’s team. ‘The Farmers didn’t have a team to compete in the indoors this year due to retirements and injuries, so myself, Mark, and Christopher and Frank Egan joined the St Pat’s club up Dundalk way,’ explained Bruton. ‘St Pat’s is the home of indoor tug-of-war,’ he added. ‘Six years ago at the World Championships in Cork they made a clean sweep, winning in four different weights, something that had never been done before. At present the St Pat’s boys are training flat out for Killarney and are especially confident of doing well in the lightweight divisions. ‘We would like to get into the medals in the 560kg and 600kg, and maybe we can do even better in the 640kg. The 680kg will probably be beyond us, though. Bruton first took up tug-of war when living in Australia 17 years ago – with a team called The Kelly Gang in Melbourne. On his return to Ireland he joined the Farmers, and while he spent two years sidelined with injury, he returned to win World medals in 2004. He also competed in the World Outdoor Champion-ships in Rochester, Minnesota, and helped the Ireland team finish in the top six.

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