A team of seasoned rowers from Peel has returned triumphant from Killyleagh, County Down, after claiming victory in the town's annual 'Magnus Barelegs' longboat race.
The formidable team, dubbed 'The Peel Young Vikings Again', have now won the men's race four times in the event's six-year history, making them somewhat legendary in the town!
The races, which took place on Sunday 20th September, form part of a packed programme at the Magnus Barelegs Viking Festival, a hugely popular event which draws crowds of approximately 3,000 people to Killyleagh.
The Festival is organised by the Killyleagh Social Partnership and supported by several generous local sponsors.
One of these is the Strangford Lough Brewing Company, whose Managing Director, Tony Davies, is also on the organisation committee.
Tony says "Every year, between 20 and 24 teams enter the races. Usually, only 4 to 6 have any chance of winning.
"The other teams are there to raise money for charity and have some fun. The figures aren't in for this year, but in 2008, over ?15,000 was raised for charity."
The Peel invasion consisted of President 'Uncle Deed', Captain Ean Crompton, Michael Horne, Charlie Brew, David Richards, Trevor Smith, Alan Kneen, Tony Gale, Michael Durber, Chris Gale and Roy Baker.
Roy Baker, who runs Peel's Leece Museum, describes how they came to be rowing for glory in Northern Ireland:
"The Young Vikings first got together in 1974 - when we were young! The boats in those days were huge and rowed by 20 rowers; two to an oar.
"It is said that they were the lifeboats from the RMS Britannic - a sister ship of the Titanic.
"We were in a pub listening to some of the older men saying that they were unbeatable, and so we said we would get a team together to beat them.
"Well, we won that first race and six more after that, including the Millennium year, 1979.
"In 1997, Ean Crompton, Charlie Brew and Mike Durber reformed us and because of our age, renamed the team 'Young Vikings Again'.
"We won five veterans' races, several Best Pub Team titles and Best Peel Team in the Peel Viking Longship races.
"In 2002, we were asked to race at the Isle of Arran. We had good times there but couldn't stand it anymore because of the midges, which are the size of blue bottles!
"In 2004, we were looking for a new place to race when we were contaced by the Down County Council, who told me they were looking for teams for a new International Viking Boat Race on the shores of Strangford Lough run, effortlessly, by a great committee, the Killyleagh Social Partnership.
"In that first year, we were offered free camping but, not being kids anymore, we found apartments to hire in Killyleagh Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Northern Ireland. That first year, the Down Council paid half for us - a big thanks for that.
"We were runners-up that year, maybe because we weren't used to their boats - or was it the night before?
"We made some very good friends in Killyleagh and the Dufferin Arms' landlord, Austy, offered to be our sponsors from then on.
"In 2005, we won the races, were runners-up in 2006, and I'm proud to say, have won for the last three years."
The races have attracted teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Norway and even the USA. None, however, seems to have made quite as much impact on the town as the Peel boys!
Tony Davies comments, "Rumour has it, they had Triple Champion T-Shirts made for 2006 and then lost to some local Tree Surgeons!
"The Peel Young Vikings Again are the heart of the festival and make their accommodation reservation first each year!
"They have made such an impact on Killyleagh that one of the local bars sponsors them - or is that because of the size of their bar bill? They're great ambassadors for the Isle of Man."
It seems that the warmth of feeling shown towards the Manx visitors is fully reciprocated.
Roy says, "I am probably right when I say Killyeagh is just about the friendliest place we have been to, we have been made to feel so welcome it is like we were born there."
The team appears to take a more nonchalant approach to their sporting prowess than they do to their carousing but, judging by their roaring success, the two activities may well be more complementary than expected.
As Roy puts it, "It was said of us by one Fergus McEwan, 'Not bad for a team of drinkers with a rowing problem'!"
The Peel Young Vikings Again will, of course, be returning to Killyleagh next year.
You can visit the Magnus Barelegs Festival Facebook page and discover more about the Festival here.
Pictured: Here Come the Govags! Back Row: Michael Horne, Charlie Brew, David Richards, 'Uncle Deed' (Team President), Trevor Smith, Ean Crompton (Captain), Alan Kneen. Middle Row: Tony Gayle. Front Row: Michael Durber, Chris Gayle, Roy Baker.
