By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Thundercats racing at Youghal Beach

Youghal’s Thundercat racing weekend proved a massive success despite mixed weather conditions that saw much of Saturday’s s race programme deferred to Sunday, on safety grounds.
Claycastle beach and the town centre was vibrant with music and activity as an estimated 65,000 people celebrated the novel attractions of the weekend. Organisers were much relieved as Sunday, which began cold and blustery, eventually donned a summer dress in the early afternoon.

Youghal Thundercats Noel cashman and Jason Ansbro with HSE Ambulance Service Dr. Hugh Doran, Pat McCarthy, Alan Sheehan and Youghal Fireman Donie McCarthy

Eighteen boats from international corners competed for points in the first ever leg of the European Beach Challenge Championship to be held in Ireland. Ireland’s two entries were Youghal’s Jason Ansbro and Noel Cashman in their boat ‘Youghal’ and Tramore’s Neil Cushen and Dave O’Hanlon aboard ‘Phat Cat.’ Both boats performed excellently on their debuts, beating several more experienced crews.

Despite a lack of familiarity with the sport, spectators were enthralled by the twists and spills as the versatile craft rode the waves at 70 mph. Some crew ended in the briny but that was part of the fun. Unfortunately, an error in assessing the tide, meant the boats performed further offshore than expected and word is that this will be rectified for future visits.

On a wider plain, Thundercat racing is the hook on which the coat of carnival can be hung. Claycastle witnessed unprecedented exuberance, as the car park was transformed into an extravagant playground with adults and children shrieking happiness in that perfect, petrified way. The excellent food and craft stalls that sprang up nearby added sublime class to the carnival.

On Sunday morning rock music shook Claycastle as the party mode revved, with the South African tones of flamboyant race commentator and general mc, Grant Harrison, adding exoticism. Beach volleyball, sandcastle sculptures and air and sea rescue demonstrations would follow.

Beach Volleyball at Youghal Strand

At Friday’s launch party, a fantastic firework display and a speed demonstration by a P1 Powerboat had enthralled a huge crowd attending an open-air Abbaesque concert at Nealon’s Quay. The bars were busy boisterous but it was most heartening on a weekend designed for family fun, to see the tiny Mall beach bustling with children playing in the midsummer dusk.

Youghal town centre remained a maelstrom of celebration. Bars, enjoying 1.30 extensions, pulsated to live music as patrons moved from venue to venue. Gardai said the weekend passed “peacefully.”

Satisfaction ruled the aftermath. UK Thundercats director Fiona Pascoe was in awe of the hospitality, describing the welcome as “unbelievable” and the weekend as her “best ever” since joining the sport.

Main sponsors Cork County Council, Youghal Town Council, Youghal Credit Union and Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group deserve great credit. However, Youghal Chamber of Commerce vice-Chairman Seamus Curran paid tribute also to the wider business community who “did everything necessary to support this venture 100 %.” He added, “But we must start planning for next year immediately.” The estimated value to the local economy has been gauged at over €1m.

Ardmore’s Fionan Murray, of Cork-based promoters Medaza who brought the Thundercats to Ireland, was overjoyed. “This region is the most beautiful, friendly part of Ireland and it has gone unrecognised for too long. We intend to rectify that. We have the natural facilities here for this type of attraction and the capability and enthusiasm succeed,” he said.

The Thundercat spectacular was touted as ‘a systems test’ in Youghal’s bid to host the Northern Europe leg of the ultra glamorous, mega-rich P1 Power Boat World Championships, for which Medaza holds a fiver-year staging rights. Further plans include a 10-day Expo Sea Ireland show, with immense economic ramifications foe the entire south Munster region. Meanwhile, whether or not the P1 bid ultimately succeeds, the consensus is that the Thundercats will return in 2009, consolidating a new chapter in tourism and water sport in the region.