President's Bulletin:
Updated 8th February 2026

Following ​analysis of the results of the Irish Open & accumulative past performances means that we can congratulate a number of people confirmed to PRO STATUS. 

Aaron Kennedy

Adam Kmet

Anton Hymplyuk​

Arthur Gordeyev

David Devlin

David McGuinness

Jason Reilly

Oleksandr Medolyz

Sam McMullan

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Pinkertons Irish Open is the last competition that the PAA UK & IRELAND will be running with a Novice Category whilst I am President. From here on Novices are defined as having competed for the first time either last year (2025) or this year (2026). All others not already recognised as having pro status are now considered to be Tier Two pullers. The only benefit to being a Novice is to get an extra round against Novices in the regional warzones. That's it. Those who wish to compete occasionally are not going to be pushed upward however long they armwrestle for - independent promotions may decide to host novice competitions & their definitions will be their own. As far as I know there is only me who attempts to keep any sort of record. The PAA are going to reward progress by results & provide the framework for it - see the PROGRESSION page which also has the list of those who have made it to Pro Status. 

 

The postponed AGM went ahead this morning with just enough interest to make it legally viable. There were no motions, none of the board stood down & no one different was nominated to replace us. In any other business a question was raised about the lack of information for the IFA EUROS - whilst they have confirmed the date & host venue - 11th - 15th June, ROMANIA (see events calendar) the official invititation with schedule, accommodation details & arrangements has not yet been forthcoming. I will advise here when it is. 

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First stop on for the Warzone League will be PRESTON PANTHERS Warzone on 28th February 2026. It will be the first time we have the extra rounds to determine 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th places for the Warzone belt points. In the past there have often been a number of people who almost made the top 6 overall final - a few extra rounds will now give additional chances to build on the successes of earlier battles & get points on the accumulated score board. ​​​

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An obvious question is how much longer will it make the days armwrestling. We will find out because after the overall finals we'll hold the tier 2 finals. If this proves to be too long, the 7th person to get 10 pins (once the overall finalists are established) will get the 6 points & be deemed the Tier 2 winner that day, all the way down to 12 place gaining 1 point. If all this sounds confusing, read the PROGRESSION page & WARZONE page for a full explaination. Or, as Kieran Morrison once said "Just pull when your name is called & don't ask any questions."

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Talking of which I notice that the match card for ARMGODS BATTLE OF THE PIPES in Scotland has been published & the very same Keiran Morrison is one of the heroes of Scotland hoping to repel the invading team on 14th March. Get there if you can, watch from behind the sofa if you can't. Whichever you choose,  www.armgods.com has the tickets & livestream options.  .

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BRITISH SIT DOWN ARMWRESTLING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS have changed their date - see calendar for all events known so far. I'm waiting on a venue to confirm a choice of dates to secure a warzone, after that I can set  up the next two & possibly a third. I like it when all the dates are set & I just turn up with the kit & we get stuck into some armwrestling. It's all the messing about at this end of the year that gets tedious, that & dealing with idiots. You know who you are.  

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See you down the road.