COLUM McHUGH

Full Name: Colum Anthony McHugh

Nickname on bowling green:  
Eagle {bald}

Who gave you the nicknameand reason: 
Got the nickname from some of the younger lads (think it was Ali Davidson and Mark Wilson) from the Cookstown outdoor club.
Think its something to do with my receding hairline 

DOB/Age: 1st February 1971

Occupation: Van Driver

What format did you start playing:  
Shortmat at the age of 13 
then outdoor at 15 years old and
stadium at 18 years old 

Which was your first club: 
Cookstown Parochial for shortmat
Cookstown for outdoor
Ballymoney for stadium  

Which formats have you played and which do you still play:  
I have played all formats but only played the stadium for couple of seasons. Still play alot of shortmat and just play team games in outdoor for Cookstown  

Which format do you prefer to play: 
Shortmat

Reason: Its probably because I have had a lot more success at the shortmat though I do enjoy the outdoor when the greens are fast

Make, model, size, colour and weight of bowls:
Concorde black size 5 for all formats

Who introduced you to bowls:
My father and 2 brothers Liam and James

Who has been the biggest influence on your bowling career:  
My brother Liam   

Who would you most like to meet: 
Kelly Brook !! (Don't tell the wife !!)

Interests outside bowls: Spending time with my wife Sharron and 4 year old daughter Molly-Kate. Listening to music, watching sport on TV

Childhood Sporting hero: John McEnroe, Mohammed Ali and Peter Canavan   

Most memorable moment [in bowls or in life]: 
The birth of my daughter Molly and in bowls winning the shortmat world singles in Belgium earlier this year [2008]

If you could change one policy/rule what would it be: 
I would like to see a rule brought into shortmat that would stop players running the jack into the ditch with the first bowl of the end

What do you regard as your best or most satisfying achievement in bowls:  
Winning the world shortmat singles title this year [2008]

What goal do you have in bowls:  
My main goal in bowls is just to keep enjoying the game and enjoying the craic of the mat. I would love to reach 100 caps and win a few more major titles in shortmat.
In the outdoor I would like to win the Irish senior cup with Cookstown  

At what age did you make your international debut: 
18 at shortmat and at 21 was picked to skip for the outdoor under 25 team  

What year: 1989 in shortmat and 1992 in outdoor.
I think this was the first British Isles junior series outdoor, I had a young chap Henry third to me in that series think his first name was Jeremy - not sure if he's still at the game

How many major & national titles have you won: 
All Shortmat -

2 world titles  
Triples in 1996 with Liam and James
Singles in 2008

3 British Isles titles 
2 pairs in 1993 and 2005 with Liam
1 triple in 1996 with Liam and James

6 Irish titles 
3 national pairs with brother Liam in 1993, 2002 and 2005
1 national triple with brothers Liam and James in 1996
1 national rinks in 2002 with Liam, Sean Davidson and Tommy Johnston

6 champion of champions titles 
1 singles in 2006
3 triples. First triple was in 1994 with Liam and James, won it the next year with Liam and Keith Morrison and won the triples this year with Glen Smith and Damian McElroy.
2 rinks titles first in 2002 with Tommy Johnston, Sean Davidson and Liam and won it again in 2004 with Ali Davidson, Liam Conway and brother Liam

What outdoor green is the best you have played on 
In UK: Greens in Carlisle were nice and fast when played with the junior team 
In NI: Lurgan and Ulster Transport are the best I've been on in the last few years here

Where are the best mats you have played shortmat on: 
Best mats in UK have to be Isle of Man. They run at 11 seconds which is unbelievable quick-a real test for any bowler.
Brocagh mats are easily the best here

Most difficult opponent: In shortmat Kieran Campbell when he is on top of his game he is unstoppable with every shot. Outdoor there are so many I find difficult but my old third Jeremy Henry is the complete player

Which opponent [if any] do you regularly play that usually beats you: 
Raymond Stubbs in shortmat

What frustrates you most when playing:  
Bowlers that always complain and cry about having no luck and give you dirty looks if you’re fortunate against them. They should just get on with it, everyone makes their own luck in bowls 

Would you be in favour of players forming their own think-tank and having a place on the management committee of each outdoor association including the IBA: Yes

Do you think respected past and current internationals should be invited to have an input with the u25s: Yes 

Other titles and near misses: 
Shortmat 
110 licensed tournaments
7 inter zone titles
1 Irish club title
15 British isles winning series with Irish team
runner-up in national triples in 2005.

Outdoor 
have 4 runners up in Provincial Towns beat in triples final twice, pairs once and under 25 once

How many caps at international level in each format:  
55 caps at shortmat and 9 Junior caps outdoor

Which clubs have you belonged to for each format: 
Shortmat Cookstown Parochial. Outdoor Cookstown

If you have changed clubs why did you move: 
Never had to change but have told Jackie wibbly Smyth that if I'm not back skipping for Cookstown next year I'm off to play for the other team in Cookstown, Fairhill

Who is the top five most promising prospects in each format:
Shortmat all from Mid Ulster Trevor Turkington, Glen Wilson, Dayne Jordan, Alan Paul, Damian Bell
In outdoor I have to be biased again and go for all the young lads that have rejuvenated Cookstown club - Mark Wilson, Ali Davidson, Jonathan Shepherd, Chris McKnight and Damian McElroy