GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 17 – January 10, 2015 | Page 13

four sides taking part but last
year saw impressive growth with
up to ten teams in tournaments.
This is a well-organized league
with a 2015 schedule already
drawn up with the first round
getting underway on March 5th
at Eugene in Oregon and ending
in Round 10 at Corvallis in the
same state in September.
For the past two years Columbia
Red Branch (CRB) from Portland,
Oregon have held sway but last
year were challenged by newcomers the Montana Grizzlies from
University of Montana. Indeed, the
Grizzlies beat CRB during the season but because they weren’t able
to travel the huge distances along
Photo: Phrog Styre Photography.
with summer student scheduling
and attend some tournaments, CRB were able to maintain a
12 weeks, while St. Louis has the same number of teams
strong position through the summer and took ultimate honrun over the same timeframe beginning in late March
ours. New sides like Tacoma and Albany will improve from
through summer. All three leagues are very competitive
last years’ league while the Grizzlies from Missoula, MT, will
and based on last years’ competition we can expect more
most definitely be ones to watch.
excitement in 2015. St. Louis also run a smaller Gaelic
Football Fall league.
Other Hurling Leagues which have a majority of American
Texas is an exciting new state for Gaelic Football in Ameriplayers are based in Milwaukee, Indianapolis and St. Louis.
ca. The Texas Championship was started by Irish immigrants
in 2012 and since then has grown to see many locals take
Milwaukee has led the way since 1995 as the premier all
up both men’s and ladies football. There are currently four
American club with Indy and St. Louis following the Wisteams in both codes in Texas from Austin, Dallas, San Antoconsin based league co-ed and draft system formats. The
nio and Houston.
draft system allows for new teams to be selected each year
the idea being to try and keep the teams as equal as posThe Texas Championship is played over four rounds and
sible. Milwaukee has a youth league and over 10 weeks
is due to begin in March. Teams travel each of the four
plays an 11 adult team league, playing 15 a-side and runs
through August. Indy last year had an 8 team league over
club locations on a monthly basis. Austin hosted the final

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