Abstract des Autors

Hurling is one of the fastest and most skilful field games in the world. Its popularity in recent years has reached exceptional proportions with interest in the game spreading far beyond Ireland to America and the Far East. The promotion and commercialization of the game through television and the print media has brought the game in line with other major sporting games of the world. However, the equipment used in playing the game has not changed much in the last 50 years. The two most important pieces of equipment being the hurley, the stick used to strike the ball, and the ball itself which is known as the sliotar. The objective of this research is to determine some of the physical and mechanical characteristics of an ash hurley and also to establish test which could be used to establish a standard for the sliotar. In Ireland, ash is the traditional wood used for the manufacture of the hurley. The genus Fraxinus consists of about 65 species mainly found in temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Only one is native to Ireland, the common ash, Fraxinus excelsior L. Ash is a strong, springy timber and it is used in the manufacture of furniture, tool handles and sports goods. The conventional sliotar or hurling ball consists of a spherical cork centre which is wrapped with up to five different types of yarn. A leather skin is hand stitched over this core and finally the ball is buffed and blackened. These final steps give the ball its unique surface ribs. Verf.-Referat