Don't Lockup Loch Garman 2023

A total of 139 competitors gathered at St. Josephs Community Centre Wexford on April 15 and 16 for an intense weekend of puzzle-solving action. The two-day tournament, Don't Lockup Loch Garman 2023, delivered 24 rounds of competition across 11 official disciplines in Wexford, Ireland. Speedcubers travelled from near and far to contest regional bragging rights, matching the strongest domestic talent against a tough visiting international field.

The premier 3x3x3 Cube event drew a massive lineup of 135 competitors across three rounds, culminating in a dominant performance by Ireland's Ciarán Beahan. Beahan secured the top step of the podium with a winning average of 7.44 seconds and a best single time of 6.30 seconds. Cillian Hainbach took second place with an average of 8.21 seconds, while CJ Furey rounded out the podium at 8.27 seconds, giving the host country a clean sweep in the primary Rubik's Cube category.

Beahan extended his authority across multiple events over the 2023 weekend, locking down four individual titles. In the 4x4x4 Cube, he claimed first place with a 27.93 average, finishing ahead of Hainbach's 35.07 and Adam Furlong's 36.13. Beahan repeated that winning formula in the 5x5x5 Cube, clocking a 45.22 average to top Hainbach at 1:13.62 and Furlong at 1:19.82. He also captured the 3x3x3 One-Handed competition, setting a winning average of 15.33 seconds from a field of 59 solvers.

International challengers mounted fierce opposition in the specialty categories, capturing critical podium spots. In the Megaminx final, Prabhav Rajaram Nayak representing India took the title with an average of 1:00.43, narrowly holding off Ireland's Richard Madden at 1:01.94 and Beahan at 1:05.69. The Clock event produced a photo finish, where Seán O'Toole edged out compatriot Rían Burke with an average of 5.90 seconds to 5.91 seconds, while Mongolia's Namuun Natsagdorj took third place in 6.21 seconds. Natsagdorj also grabbed third in Skewb at 5.07 seconds, just behind United Kingdom rival Harry Owen at 4.73 seconds and Irish winner William Carey at 4.32 seconds.

Richard Madden enjoyed a stellar outing across several disciplines, taking victories in both Pyraminx and Square-1. Madden topped a 105-person Pyraminx roster with a 3.40 average, beating Hainbach's 4.54 and Furey's 4.65. He added the Square-1 crown with a 10.00 average, outlasting 31 competitors. In the fast-paced 2x2x2 Cube, Kalin Doherty captured first place with a blistering 1.97 average, ahead of Furey's 2.83 and Madden's 3.17. Meanwhile, Colm McCarthy secured the 3x3x3 Blindfolded title with a single solve of 1:05.50.

Away from the podium battles, several competitors achieved remarkable milestones across their individual programmes. Sebastian Moore took on five events and posted a 2x2x2 personal best of 7.92 seconds, which was 71.6 percent faster than his previous mark of 27.91, alongside his first ever attempt at Skewb in 6.55 seconds. Graham D. Downey delivered a huge improvement in Square-1, recording a personal best of 17.86 seconds to best his former time of 1:01.47 by 70.9 percent on his way to 10th place. Charlie Jones cut 70.5 percent off his 2x2x2 best with a 3.82-second result and logged a first ever attempt at Skewb in 9.63 seconds. Rafael Bastos Scully dropped his Skewb best by 50.2 percent to 13.48 seconds and posted a 10.19 in his first Pyraminx solve.

The relentless progression continued through the deep field as competitors tested themselves in unfamiliar events. Adam Magee tackled eight disciplines, trimming 52.8 percent off his Skewb personal best down to 11.75 seconds and making a first ever attempt at 4x4x4 in 2:02.34. Finn O'Sullivan achieved a 35.4 percent reduction on his 3x3x3 personal best with a time of 19.57 seconds while trying one-handed solving for the first time in 1:27.14. Aidan Browne took on ten events, earning a 12th-place finish in Skewb and registering his first ever attempt at Megaminx in 2:02.73. Cian Ó Flannagáin tackled all 11 disciplines, securing 5th place in blindfolded solving while clocking his first official Clock solve at 12.23 seconds.

This speed cubing showcase highlighted the growing depth of talent in Ireland, with local solvers capturing 27 total podium positions against strong international contention. Across every bracket, the official 3x3 results and multi-puzzle achievements proved how competitive the regional scene has become. Don't Lockup Loch Garman 2023 wrapped up as a definitive success, leaving speedcubing enthusiasts looking forward to the next major cubing competition and WCA competition battles on the calendar.