Joe Ward may have denied Russia one gold at the 39th Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany on St Patrick’s Day.

However, that didn’t stop the European powerhouses claiming four gold medals at the 20-nation tournament.

Ward finished on top of the light-heavyweight podium – and also  scooped the Best Technical boxer award – after a 20-14  win over Russia’s 2009 AIBA World Senior champion Egor Mekhonstev, a bronze medal winner at the 2011 AIBA World Championships and a two-time European champion.

London 2012 Olympian Michael Conlan, David Oliver Joyce, Adam Nolan and Paddy Barnes claimed four bronze medals in Halle.

Barnes was beaten by Germany’s Hamza Touba, who was edged out by one point by  Russia’s Belik Galanov in the light-flyweight final.

Conlan was unlucky to lost out on a countback to Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia in the flyweight semi-final. Purevdorj subsequently lost to Jasurbek Latipov of Uzbekistan in the 52kg decider.

Nolan was beaten by  Germany’s Arayk Marutjan in the last-four and the German welterweight dropped a 19-15 decision Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan in the 69Kg final.

Brazilian lightweight Robson Conceicao, who took a standing count on his way to his last-four win over David Oliver Joyce, collected gold following a convincing victory over Gani Zhaylaov of Kazakhstan in the 60Kg final.

Ireland don’t regularly enter the Chemistry Cup because the tournament usually coincides with the Irish Elite Championships.

Likewise, Joe Ward is the first Irish boxer to win gold at the prestigious German Multi-Nations.

Ken Egan (2006) and Michael Roche (2000) both took home silver from the tournament.

2012 Chemistry Cup Finals March 17th