Irish Wolfhounds Ready To Be Unleashed On Short Track World Tour
A trio of Irish skaters line up to race this weekend as the inaugural ISU Short Track World Tour gets under way in Montreal, Canada (25-27 October).
Ryan McAnuff (Co. Antrim), Sean McAnuff (Co. Antrim) and Liam O’Brien (Co. Cavan) will also be sporting racing suits that incorporate a new identity for the World Tour. As part of the rebranding of what was the ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup series, in conjunction with the International Skating Union (ISU) and top designers, each national federation was tasked with choosing an identity that conveyed the competitive drive of their athletes and encapsulated the passion they bring to the ice in representing their countries on the international stage. The Irish Wolfhound, with its imposing stature, bold and fearless nature and legendary status in our national folklore, was deemed to embody Team Ireland to perfection.
The Irish Wolfhounds will be part of the journey that sees the World Tour traverse three continents over the coming months racing over the 500, 1000 and 1500 metre distances. As well as Montreal, there will also be stops in Salt Lake City, USA (1-3 November), Beijing, China (6-8 December), Seoul, South Korea (13-December), Tilburg, The Netherlands (7-9 February) and Milan, Italy (14-16 February). While this season’s World Tour will have no bearing on qualification for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the final stage in Milan will serve as a test event for those swiftly approaching Games.
In addition to the striking new team identities, the Short Track World Tour will feature enhanced broadcasts that will immerse longtime and new fans of this thrilling sport in every aspect of the competitions both on and off the ice.
“This is an exciting World Tour competition here in Montreal,” Sean McAnuff said. “This area holds a big place in my heart as I went to university and got married a short drive from here. This is the debut of the Irish Wolfhounds and we have a lot of friends and family who are coming to cheer us on! We may look sweet and calm…but by definition we have a strong prey drive!”
“It’s very exciting not only for the new season, but also to see what the World Tour has to offer,” O’Brien said. “Looking around the venue, there’s definitely a new fresh look and it will be great to get out there and race on Friday. I can’t wait to pull on the Wolfhounds suit and leave it all out on the ice.”
“The new World Tour racing circuit should bring even more excitement to the racing calendar and I look to enjoy racing and continue to skate hard and fast,” Ryan McAnuff said.
The ISU Short Track World Tour can be followed live on the Skating ISU YouTube channel and via the #ShortTrackWorldTour and #ShortTrackSkating hashtags on social media.
Competition Schedule (Montreal, Canada)
Friday, 25 October – Qualification Rounds
Saturday, 26 October – 500m/1500m
Sunday, 27 October – 1000m
