Flying Kiwi Smith conquers SpeedGolf Irish Open in Castlebar
Ireland’s Rob Hogan in action in Castlebar
New Zealand’s Robin Smith is no stranger to dashing about, but flying in the night before the Poison Darts SpeedGolf Irish Open to win and then dash home the following day must go down as one of the ultimate smash-and-grab jobs in the game.
Proudly supported by Hard Metal, the event delivered a high-octane spectacle at a pristine Castlebar Golf Club.
Smith won by less than a minute from Ireland’s former two-time world champion, Rob Hogan, and Luke Willett, who shared second place with an identical final score.
Smith’s win was made all the more dramatic by his whirlwind 48-hour journey — flying in from New Zealand the night before the event and returning home the following day.
Winners Bev Fentiman and Robin Smith
In the women’s division, Bev Fentiman stormed to victory, triumphing in a field that included world-class competitors such as Britta Ucshkamp, the reigning Women’s World Time Trial Champion.
The post-event Mass Start World Time Trial was hailed as a groundbreaking addition — a revolutionary new format met with overwhelming enthusiasm and one that may well set a new global standard.
Among the standouts was Willett, the current Men’s World Time Trial Champion, whose explosive performance thrilled the galleries.
Two-time world champion and global SpeedGolf ambassador SpeedGolfRob played a central role throughout the weekend, bringing both experience and charisma to a field brimming with talent and international flair.
A six-person documentary crew led by Ben Simms — acclaimed director behind many of Bear Grylls’ adventure series — was on-site filming the first episode of an upcoming SpeedGolf documentary.
With Ireland’s breathtaking landscapes, Castlebar’s warm community, and a world-class lineup, the setting was picture-perfect.
The event was proudly backed by Hard Metal Machine Tools Ltd, celebrating over 50 years of Irish engineering excellence.
Also turning heads was up-and-coming apparel brand Poison Darts, whose bold, athletic designs brought a fresh energy to the fairways.
