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Double win for Galgorm Sauna Masters as Ballymena team secures UK titles and world championship shot

  • Writer: Love Ballymena
    Love Ballymena
  • May 2
  • 4 min read
Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village

Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village


A standout double success for a Ballymena-based spa team has put Northern Ireland firmly on the international wellness map, after two Galgorm Sauna Masters claimed top honours at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships on home soil.


Zak Moore and Jack Strange were crowned Team Performance Champions following a highly competitive two-day contest hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village, earning them a place at the Aufguss World Masters Playoffs in the Netherlands this August.



Their victory not only secures national recognition but also sets up a high-stakes bid to reach the World Championships finals later this year, marking a major moment for the growing sauna culture across the UK and Ireland.


Home advantage delivers major win


Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village

Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village


The championships, held at Galgorm from 20 to 22 April, brought together leading Sauna Masters from across the UK to compete in immersive, multi-sensory sauna performances judged by an international panel of experts.


Among the judges were Deborah Carr, Director of the British Sauna Society, and Lasse Eriksen, President of Aufguss WM, underlining the global significance of the event despite its UK setting.



Competing in front of a home crowd, Zak Moore and Jack Strange delivered a winning Team Performance that combined storytelling, music, heat control and choreographed towel techniques, securing the top prize in one of the competition’s most demanding categories.


Individual success adds to milestone moment


Alongside the team title, Zak Moore also claimed second place in the newly introduced Modern Classic category, reinforcing his reputation as one of the UK’s leading Aufguss practitioners.


Zak Moore, Sauna Master at Galgorm and reigning UK Aufguss Champion 2025, who secured second place in the Modern Classic category at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships

Zak Moore, Sauna Master at Galgorm and reigning UK Aufguss Champion 2025, who secured second place in the Modern Classic category at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships


Zak entered the competition as the reigning UK Aufguss Champion, having represented the UK at the World Championships Finals in Verona, Italy in September 2025, and his latest results extend an already impressive run at national level.


The Modern Classic category strips the ritual back to its fundamentals, focusing on technical precision, atmosphere and mastery of heat and fragrance, making his dual success across categories particularly notable.



International stage now in sight


Following their win, Zak and Jack will now compete at the Aufguss WM Playoffs at Thermen Bussloo in the Netherlands from 27 to 30 August.


A strong performance there would secure them a place at the Aufguss World Championships finals in Germany in September, placing the Ballymena-based duo among the elite in global sauna performance.



Voices from the competition


Deborah Carr, Director of the British Sauna Society, said:


“Bringing the UK Aufguss Championships to Galgorm has been a real highlight. They’ve created an exceptional platform for Sauna Masters, and their passion for authentic sauna experiences makes them a natural partner for this event.


“What’s most exciting is the continued growth of the UK Aufguss scene, with increasingly creative and confident performances each year. We’re proud to see this year’s winners go on to represent the UK internationally.”


Zak Moore, Sauna Master at Galgorm and reigning UK Aufguss Champion 2025, who secured second place in the Modern Classic category at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships

Zak Moore, Sauna Master at Galgorm and reigning UK Aufguss Champion 2025, who secured second place in the Modern Classic category at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships


Speaking after the win, Zak Moore said:


“To win gold for the Team Performance title at the UK Aufguss Championships, on home soil at Galgorm and in front of a home crowd, is incredibly special. Competing alongside Jack and representing the place where my Aufguss journey began made it even more meaningful.


“The Modern Classic category was a completely different challenge - it really tests your fundamentals - so to place in both is something I’m really proud of. We’re excited to take our experience forward, build on our craft, and see how we can perform at the next level.”



Jack Strange added:


“There’s a real sense of momentum around Aufguss and sauna culture in the UK right now, so to be part of that - and to bring a title home to Galgorm - is a fantastic feeling.


Jack Strange, Sauna Master at Galgorm and Team Performance Champion at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, held at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village

Jack Strange, Sauna Master at Galgorm and Team Performance Champion at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, held at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village


“Competing as a team with Zak adds another level of connection and trust, and I think that really came through in our performance. The atmosphere across the championships this week has been incredible, and we’re really looking forward to taking that energy with us as we step onto the international stage.”


Galgorm’s growing reputation in global wellness


The success of Zak and Jack reflects Galgorm’s continued investment in sauna culture and its positioning as a leading destination for immersive thermal spa experiences.



Tara Moore, Associate Director of Spa Operations at Galgorm, said:


“We are incredibly proud of Zak and Jack and what they have achieved this week. Hosting the UK Aufguss Championships once again at Galgorm, and seeing our own team succeed at this level, is a powerful reflection of the passion, skill and dedication within our spa team.


“Aufguss is an integral part of the spa experience we offer to our guests, and moments like this reinforce Galgorm’s position as a leading destination for authentic sauna ritual in the UK and Ireland.”


With visitors travelling from across the UK, Ireland and beyond, Galgorm continues to play a central role in shaping modern wellness experiences, blending traditional sauna rituals with contemporary spa treatments.



For more information on the Celtic Sauna Infusion experience at Galgorm, visit: https://www.galgorm.com/celtic-sauna.html


The team’s next challenge now lies on the international stage, where their performance in August will determine whether Ballymena’s latest success story can translate into a place among the world’s best.



At a glance


  • Zak Moore and Jack Strange win Team Performance at 2026 UK Aufguss Championships

  • Event hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village from 20 to 22 April

  • Zak Moore also takes second place in Modern Classic category

  • Duo to represent the UK at Aufguss WM Playoffs in the Netherlands in August

  • Aim is to qualify for World Championships finals in Germany in September

  • Judges included British Sauna Society Director Deborah Carr and Aufguss WM President Lasse Eriksen

  • Success highlights Galgorm’s growing reputation in global wellness tourism

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