This is the big one. The best players from over thirty countries representing their nation and playing for the honour of the best Warhammer Fantasy country and the best Warhammer 40k country. For many, this is the pinnacle of gaming. Playing for your country as part of a team in a foreign land…gaming doesn’t get much more fun or at a higher standard than this.
Team Ireland WHFB are attending for the second year in succession, with Team Ireland 40k making their debut. Northern Ireland are also represented by teams for both systems. The Irish 40k team have set the bar high, by winning the 2010 Six Nations event in Cardiff – beating England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Barbarians along the way. They have to be considered one of the contenders for the overall title, but the competition will be tougher in Germany. Team WHFB finished last in the 2009 Four Nations, last in the 2009 ETC and last in the 2010 Six Nations. However, they are optimistic that they can break this run in Germany.
Qualification for the Irish 40k team began in autumn 2009 when I entered a team in the competition. All I needed now was, well, a team. I approached as many people as I knew and, taking advice on board, approached four clubs to ask them to each put forward one player who would be automatically on the team – earning a “golden ticket”. Immediately, I asked the four “golden tickets” to commit to being part of Team Ireland 40k and to vote on a captain. The reason I chose four was to ensure that we had a team. Under ETC rules, you need four players from one country to make a team (the other four could be ringers). I chose four from different clubs for inclusivity. The remaining four would be chosen from the rankings system that I set up (based on the international RHQ system). So, way back in the depths of 2009 Paul was voted in as team captain and I took my leave – just helping with the rankings, advising and so on.
Later in 2009, Declan withdrew and appointed Stuart from the Drogs in his place. The team were happy enough with this. Unfortunately, Stuart asked to be removed from the team a couple of months ago. There appeared to be no Drog to take his place, leaving the team in a bit of a sticky patch. The three remaining “golden tickets” agreed to try sort this asap and Richard Flood was brought on board.
The Irish Warhammer 40k team is Paul Quigley (Captain), Joe Cullen, Jimmy Murphy, Richard Flood, Darragh Cullen, Paraic O’Confhaola, Cian O’Dowd and Barra Macniocaill.
The Irish Warhammer team was chosen as follows. I automatically qualified as I was voted Team Captain 2010 by the 2009 team. Mal Cooney automatically qualified as Vice-Captain as he was the 2009 captain. Brian Leonard, Alan Woods-Conway and Ciarán Dunne qualified by being part of the 2009 team and finishing in the top eight of the rankings. Dave Leahy and Ken Chambers qualified directly through the rankings and Halaigh Whelan-McManus qualified as the wild-card, voted on by the seven players.
Regardless, everyone is looking forward to competing in Munster, and we hope that we can continue the development and progression of wargaming in Ireland!
Title: The European Team Championships
Location: Munster, Germany
Discuss on our Forum: Click here
Description: The international team event for Warhammer and Warhammer 40k.
Date: 7/8th August 2010
Start Time: 9am
End Time: 6pm
Fantasy team t-shirts have arrived. Thanks very much to Dave, fantastic artwork.
Good luck guys!