posted Mar 30th, 2012 - The field of teams at the Shamrock Showdown 2011 included a team from Ireland for the first time, while the World Challenge had the first team from UK's neighbor island at the 2010 event. The number went up to three teams at the World Challenge 2011.

Fast Air competed in the AAA Class, Kinetix in the A Class and NYOL (Noo Your Other Left) in the Rookie Class. This was enough reason for the NSL News to gather the complete Irish delegation for a live NSL Talk last year.

The teams from Ireland are now making the next step up, and the World Challenge 2012 will be the first time in the history of the event that Ireland will have teams represented in all four competition catagories. From having no teams from Ireland represented at the World Challenge until 2010, Ireland will this year have five teams at Bodyflight Bedford next week.

Fast Air held their own in great style last year in the ultra competitive AAA Class competition, scoring just shy of a 17-point average, and return this year ready to be even more competitive than before. Kinetex also returns for the World Challenge 2012 after performing very well last year and winning the A Class competition. Kinetix is now moving up into the AA Class.

Last year's Rookie Class team NYOL is making the same move and will compete in the A Class next week. After only coming together a couple of months before last year's World Challenge and with limited training NYOL was very happy with the 8.3 meet average last year. With some good recent tunnel training and only one change to the team's lineup, NYOL wants to leave a few teams behind this year after finishing on the very bottom of the leaderboard in 2011.

Two newly formed Rookie Class teams, Tail Spin and The Odd Quad, have also been training in the tunnel. NYOL member Ronan Whelan said that both teams plan on "beating each other around Bedford for the bragging rites". They also hope to be in competition with some other Rookie Class teams.

World Challenge 2011 - Ireland		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	10,C,5	20,P,2	H,M,Q,K,A	L,J,16,12	E,7,15	O,11,22	14,B,17	6,13,9	4,3,21	1,G,8	Total	Avg
27	Fast Air	16	15	29	15	18	14	15	16	13	15	166	16.6
Rank	A Class	M,E,6	O,C,J	G,4	21,Q	9,F	8,A	D,K,L	B,P,N	19,7	2,H	Total	Avg
1	Kinetix	18	19	13	13	21	11	15	20	11	13	154	15.4
Rank	Rookie	O,P,D	K,J,L	C,E,F	N,G,Q	M,B,A	H,D,L	P,B,C	E,J,H	M,F,O	N,K,A	Total	Avg
5	Noo Your Other Left	9	6	9	5	7	8	8	9	17	5	83	8.3

Ronan Whelan reported from Ireland that 4way competition has taken a "new lease of life" in the last year:

"It's about time. With Fast Air burning the trail and coaching at every chance they get, the skill level is rising every day in Ireland." He added that there is more desire now to be a part of a team. His own team NYOL also had its impact. The team members have a lot of fun, which comes combined with a fast rate of progression: "Others are saying, I want some of that too."

The Irish Nationals 2011 were a great success with the highest participation in history. The Irish participation at the World Challenge 2012 promises an even bigger and better year for the Irish 4way community. Ronan Whelan is looking forward to the upcoming event: "Watch out, the Irish are about..."