In Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Ceola McGowan, a native of County Sligo, defeated rivals from all around the world to win the World Double Bit Axe Throwing Championships.

"Sincerely, I'm still in disbelief! I've never competed in anything as hard as this one," Ms. McGowan remarked.

"It's not just because the weather conditions were gale force winds but the standard of axe throwing had just gotten so high," she said.

Co Wicklow resident Ms. McGowan won the title for the first time in 2022, the year the tournament was conducted in Canada every two years.

The 33-year-old finished second in the women's team event alongside teammates Oonagh McMorrow and Jenn Montrose.

"I'm ecstatic to have kept the title," Ms. McGowan said.

"But I must admit throwing alongside Oonagh McMorrow and Jen Montrose in the teams final really helped settle my nerves and to come way with a sliver medal for that - icing on the sweetest cake of all," she said.


In 2018, Ms. McGowan threw her first axe and hit her first bullseye, which hooked her.

She thinks that there is a strong feeling of camaraderie within the sport of axe throwing, having trained with the Wicklow Axe Throwers.

Ms. McGowan has also participated in pole dancing for a period of years, which she claims has improved her axe throwing skills.

She attributes her strength and fitness to her pole dancing courses in Bray.

Ms. McGowan expressed her hope that more women will take up axe throwing as a sport as a result of her victory.