Irish Wolfhounds Wrap Up World Tour In Dordrecht
Sean McAnuff (Co. Armagh) and Liam O’Brien (Co. Cavan) have concluded the 2025/2026 ISU Short Track World Tour at the final event in Dordrect, The Netherlands this weekend.
The Irish Wolfhounds took on the opening rounds of the 1500 and 500 metres on Day One. McAnuff was first on the ice in Heat 5 of the 1500 metre heats. The race began sedately and picked up midway with McAnuff taking the lead with seven laps remaining. He held that position for a couple of laps, but when the pace intensified he dropped back ultimately finishing in fifth with a time 2:28.489. O’Brien was next up in Heat 7. He hovered around second place for the opening laps and when the race got going with seven laps to go he was bumped off course after coming into contact with another skater. He came home in a time of 2:28.335 for sixth place.
Next up on the agenda were the 500 metre preliminaries. O’Brien was drawn in Heat 11 where he started third from the inside. He maintained that placement until the final lap where he was passed taking fourth place in a time of 42.464. McAnuff lined up in Heat 14. Coming to the close of third last lap. he was in second when lost his footing and slid off the track. He ranked fourth in the heat with no time recorded. The Wolfhounds returned later in the day for 500 metre repechage heats. In Heat 2 McAnuff was always playing catch up with an outside lane draw and finished fourth in a time of 42.362. Heat 8 was incident packed with O’Brien taking advantage to claim third place with a time of 43.345.
The second day of competition saw the focus on the 1000 metres. In Heat 5 of the preliminaries, O’Brien began positively before losing speed due to contact with other skaters. A crash ahead of him on the final lap saw him take second place in a time of 1:32.028. Heat 7 had to be recalled for a restart. Once under way McAnuff fought hard to keep in touch with the leaders and moved up into second on the final lap to end with a time of 1:29.746. McAnuff was back for Heat 5 of the repechage heats picking up fourth place in a time of 1:28.637. O’Brien drew Heat 10 and finished fourth as well with a time of 1:29.984.
The Wolfhounds returned on the third morning of the event for the 1500 metre repechage quarterfinals. With ten laps to go in Heat 5, O’Brien was taken out in a three skater pile up causing the referee to start the race again. Unfortunately, it was not second time lucky for O’Brien who fell again with ten laps remaining in the rerun bringing his World Tour campaign to an end with a sixth place and a time of 2:50.446. It was a leisurely opening to Heat 7 which featured McAnuff who eventually finished in sixth with a time of 2:36.363.
Photo: Champions Ice Skating
