MORE THAN 360 people participated in the second annual Irish Christmas Tree Throwing Championship held in Ennis, Co Clare at the weekend.

The fundraising event, which is based on age-old lumberjack traditions and commonplace across Germany and Austria, saw members of the public compete to determine the Irish distance record for throwing a standard 1.5 metre tree.

Competitors hailed from as far afield as Oregan, Ontario, Slovakia, Scotland, Brisbane, and all over Ireland.

John O’Dea from Cappamore in Co Limerick secured a new Irish record and the championship title after he threw a Christmas tree a distance of 10.2 metres, beating fellow competitor Sean Jaffray from Scotland’s effort by just 0.3 metres. Norah Murphy won the ladies title with her throw of 6.3m, while the Under 12 section was won by Soran Drayas (9.2m) and Aoife O’Gara (7.86 m).

All proceeds raised during the contest, which was organised by Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council, went to the Clare Branch of Cystic Fibrosis.

Commenting on the championship, Joan Tarmey, Environmental Awareness Officer at Clare County Council said disposing of Christmas trees is often an arduous task so this event “allowed people to do so in style”. “The Council will continue to provide a free Christmas tree recycling service at various locations throughout County Clare,” she said.