Oct 28, 2014
Kate Callaghan – a member of the Motorcycling Ireland’s Women’s Trial Des Nations Team 2014, takes time to write about her years preparation and performance at the Trial Des Nations.
From October 2013:
With the season getting ready to start in January 2014, practice and bike fitness starts. With only 3 months to prepare the time is short but possible. Funds are also taken into consideration, with helping raise money for the Trials Committee.
In doing this I take on our Annual Awards Presentation with the organisation of Venue and ticket sales. Also the organisation on the night. I have also helped with course marking for the club MEC. With the Trials Committee’s Training day’s I’ve helped with course marking observing and sign on.
January 2014:
As the season starts in January it is for sure very hard to find the time to help at Championship events but among these championship events there are club trials that I try get out to and help as much as possible.
Championship time:
Throughout the season between competing in Irish Championship and Southern Centre and along with club trials. To keep on top of my riding it involved fitness as trying to find the time to get out practicing during the school months is hard. I took into account that swimming, running and weight training was the best for fitting into the short evenings. With the dedication of swimming up and down a swimming pool for two nights a week this worked wonders for me. Last year I suffered from arm pump; I knew I had to do something. I haven’t had problems since I increased my fitness.
Summer 2014 (June,July,August) :
With more time on my hands without school and just working a few nights a week. I found it a lot easier to fit bike time and fitness into my seclude.
With eating a healthy breakfast every morning and starting the day with fitness. Swimming for an hour & half or running, then following weights and workouts. The evenings during the week I was off work (2nights). I would spend between 2.5 hours to 3hours bike time. I also had training days with the TDN (Trial Des Nations) team. These days were great for bonding with the team and being encouraged to try more hard sections. I would also at the weekend be competing in a trial either North or South. I found this hard to attach to as my friends were going out during the week and I had to miss due to my dedication of wanting to compete well in Andorra.
September 2014: (Andorra time)
Wednesday 10th September:
- I flew from Dublin to Girona, Barcelona.
- With a 3 hour drive from the airport to Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra.
Thursday 11th September:
We unpacked the van and set up in the paddock
10:30am I signed on for the World Trial Championship, with receiving my riding bib.
11:00-1:30pm I went to practice at the practice area on the lovely mountain in 30 degrees heat.
2:00-5:00pm I went to walk the section for Friday ( World Trial Championship) and also for Saturday (Women’s Trial Des Nations).
5:00pm was the scrutiny of my bike.
Then it was dinner and an early night.
Friday 12th September
7:00am The alarm went off
7:30am Breakfast
8:00am To the paddock for the final checks of the bike and ‘to check the makeup’.
8:30am FIM Women’s team photo
8:58am Start
2:30pm Finished
2:50pm Washed the bike
3:00pm Bike preparation for Saturday (I didn’t participate)
3:30pm off to shower and look good
4:45pm Team meeting in hotel
5:00pm Trial Des Nations Team Parade
5:30pm Trial Des Nations Ceremony
7:00pm Dinner and Off to bed early
Saturday 13th September
7:30am the alarm went off
8:30am Breakfast
9:00am to the paddock
9:30am To the start
9:50am Ladies team pictures
10:10am Start (Team Ireland’s Ladies)
3:30pm Finished
My Experience:
Friday World Trial Championship 12th September.
I completely enjoyed my 2nd World Trial. The experience I gain and confidence no words can explain. I was on top form with putting my all into it. Every section I pushed and pushed trying to avoid 5’s. As 3’s are far better than getting a 5 punched on your card. With finishing 33rd position out of 48 riders. I was happy even knowing losing 5 less marks I could have achieved top 30.
Saturday Trial Des Nations 14th September.
Flying the Irish Flag today with Michelle Hanlon.
Porridge on board and eager to go for day two. Full confidence going out after a successful day one. Section one on lap one. The section got the better of me I banged my left baby toe off a rock, as I took the risk of a clean over a broken toe. Fortunately the clean won and the toe suffered. As I carried on with just a little pain.
Then on the 2nd lap the toe became victim again, clean again. But this time my toe became very painful knocking me completely. It unsteadied me and took away my concentration. Continuing the lap bad luck hit me, with my knee got caught and melting to the exhaust pipe, I had lovely pink dye on the exhaust pipe. Shelly and I had finished with a great days laugh and experience with loads of war wounds. The team was truly amazing to work with and I personally had an awesome time.
I would like to thank Motorcycling Ireland with their support and funds for giving me the opportunity to compete at international level and gain such great experience. I would also like the thank the team itself for their encouragement, minding and mechanics.
I look forward to in the future to progress more and hopefully compete at full international level and live my dream.
Yours in Sport,
Kate Callaghan
Oct 28, 2014
The cream of Juvenile 60×30 Handball converged on two Leinster venues this month, from Friday 10th October – Sunday 12th to battle it out for the 2014 All Ireland titles in the softball code. Thirteen counties in all competed with Clare, Tyrone and Wexford leading the way taking an impressive 3 titles each. This was impressive of Clare and Tyrone in particular as their counties have only one 60×30 court at their disposal. Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick followed closely with 2 titles each and Tipperary collected one to complete a very successful weekend of Juvenile Handball.
On the Friday, action began in Talbot’s Inch, Kilkenny, were three grades were decided. First up was the Boys Under 15 Doubles where Cork’s David Walsh & Tadgh O’Neill defeated Kilkenny’s Cathal Barry & Eoin Regan 15-0, 15-2. The second game turned out to be the game of the night with Kilkenny’s Shane Dunne defeating Jerome Cahill, Tipperary. Shane took the Boys U16 Singles title after a three game epic which came down to the last ace. He won the first game 20-15, James won the second game 16-21 and it was nip and tuck all the way in the tie break before Shane took it 11-10 to the crowds delight. The final game on the night was won by the experienced Tipperary duo of Jason English & Colin Ryan who defeated the Kilkenny pair of Rory Cullan & Dion Bourke.
The Sunday action returned to Talbots Inch were there were seven games down for decision. First up was the Girls U15 Singles with Clare’s Ella Donnellan defeating Kildare’s Mollie Dagg 15-6 & 15-11. In the Girls U14 Singles Limerick’s Catriona Millane took a tie break win over Kildare’s Leah Doyle 15-8, 10-15, 15-6. In the Boys U15 Singles Wexford’s Anthony Butler claimed their first of three titles on the day when he defeat Waterford’s Kaven O’Keeffe 15-1, 15-10. Then in the Girls U16 Singles Kilkenny’s Aoife Holden overcame Roscommon’s Fiona Tully in another 3 game tussle that went down to the last ace. Fiona won the first game 21-14 but Aoife took the next 21-14 and the tie-break 11-10.
The Girls U16 Doubles was another cracker of a match with it also going to a tie-break. Wexford’s Roisin Walsh & Holly Hynes defeated Limerick’s Katie McCarthy & Laura Stack in three tight games on a score line 21-15, 17-21, 11-9. Next up was the Girls U17 Doubles final. Limerick’s Michelle McCarty & Niamh McCarthy defeated Kilkenny’s Elaine Power & Aoife Walsh 21-2, 21-0. Finally in the Boys U17 Singles Wexford’s Keith Armstrong defeated Galway’s Jamie Kelly 21-15, 21-6 to round off the day’s action in Kilkenny.
The other venue on Sunday was Garryhill where there were six games. First up was the Girls U14 Doubles with Tyrone’s Caitlin Conway & Elizabeth Garvey claimed their counties first of three titles on the day when the pair defeat Clare’s Aoife Floyd & Bridin Dinan over three tight games 15-10, 2-15, 15-8. In the Girls U15 Doubles Tyrone’s Michaela McCartan & Emer Kerr defeated Tipperary’s Eimer Meagher & Sile Spain 15-12, 15-2. Tyrone’s three in a row then came in the Boys U14 Doubles with Antoin Fox & Cormac Munroe defeating Tipperary’s John McGrath & Sean McAdams over three games 15-3, 13-15, 15-7.
Next up was the Girls U17 Singles. Clare’s Doireann Murphy had a tight first game victory over Dublin’s Meadhbh Ní Dhálaigh 21-16 followed by 21-0 in the second. In the Boys U14 Singles Clare’s very skilful Tiernan Agnew defeated Meath’s Daniel Farrelly 15-2, 15-0. The last game of the day saw Cork’s Shane Flynn & Daniel Moynihan defeating Tyrone’s Aaron Owens & Jack Campbell over 3 tough games on a score line 21-8, 5-21 and 11-7 to complete the action at the Carlow venue.
2014 GAA Handball Juvenile 60×30 All Ireland Finals
Friday 10th October 2014:
BU15D Cork (David Walsh/Tadgh O’Neill) dft Kilkenny (Cathal Barry/Eoin Regan) 15-0, 15-2
BU16S Kilkenny (Shane Dunne) dft Tipperary (Jerome Cahill) 21-15, 16-21, 11-10
BU16D Tipperary (Jason English/Colin Ryan) dft Kilkenny (Roy Cullen/Dion Bourke) 21-3, 21-3
Sunday 12th October 2014:
GU15S Clare (Ella Donnellan) dft Kildare (Mollie Dagg) 15-6, 15-11
GU14S Limerick (Catriona Millane) dft Kildare (Leah Doyle) 15-8, 10-15, 15-6.
BU15S Wexford (Anthony Butler) dft Waterford (Kavan O’Keeffe) 15-1, 15-10
GU16S Kilkenny (Aoife Holden) dft Roscommon (Fiona Tully) 14-21, 21-14, 11-10
GU16D Wexford (Roisin Walsh/Holly Hynes) dft Limerick (Katie McCarthy/Laura Stack) 21-15, 17-21, 11-9
GU17D Limerick (Michelle McCarthy/Niamh McCarthy) dft Kilkenny (Elaine Power/Aoife Walsh) 21-2, 21-0
BU17S Wexford (Keith Armstrong) dft Galway (Jamie Kelly) 21-15, 21-6
Sunday 12th October 2014
GU14D Tyrone (Caitlin Conway/Elizabeth McGarvey) dft Clare (Aoife Floyd/Bridin Dinan) 15-10, 2-15, 15-8
GU15D Tyrone (Michaela McCartan/Emer Kerr) dft Tipperary (Eimer Meagher/Sile Spain) 15-12, 15-2
BU14D Tyrone (Antoin Fox/Cormac Munroe) dft Tipperary (John McGrath/Sean McAdams) 15-3, 13-15, 15-7
GU17S Clare (Doireann Murphy) dft Dublin (Meadhbh Ní Dhálaigh) 21-16, 21-0
BU14S Clare (Tiernan Agnew) dft Meath (Daniel Farrelly) 15-2, 15-0
BU17D Cork (Shane Flynn/Daniel Moynihan) dft Tyrone (Aaron Owens/Jack Campbell) 21-8, 5-21, 11-7
Oct 28, 2014
Minister Heather Humphreys TD, and actor & producer Carrie Crowley joined with over 300 walkers and paddlers to open the Shannon Blueway today in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.
The Shannon Blueway runs from Drumshanbo through Battlebridge and Leitrim Village to Carrick on Shannon. It includes 16.5km of water trail and over 10km of walking routes in three loops. The Shannon Blueway provides a range of recreational leisure activities such as walking, cycling, canoeing, fishing and cruising all linked by the waterways to local towns and villages.
Minister Heather Humphrey’s stated “I am delighted to be launching this project here in Leitrim today. The Shannon Blueway has the potential to have a very positive impact on jobs and the regional economy. The Mayo Greenway, which is now in its 4th year of operation, has seen a jump in visitor numbers from 80,000 in 2011 to 300,000 in 2014. That means an extra €5 million was brought into the region. With the market for off road adventure tourism is growing here in Ireland and internationally, Leitrim is in a prime position to benefit from this trend.
The launch of the Blueway will allow local businesses can capitalise on an increase in demand for transport, equipment hire, accommodation and entertainment. I would like to commend Waterways Ireland for this initiative, which I have no doubt will have a very position impact on the region.”
Carrie Crowley said “as a self-confessed blow-in to the area, the Shannon, the wonderful countryside and Leitrim people have provided me with a tranquil and inspirational place to work and home away from home .The only problem is, now our secret is out!”
The Shannon Blueway is the first of its kind in Ireland where a myriad of recreational activities have been developed and bundled together as a single or multiple visitor experience and tourism proposition. Waterways Ireland has, using the wonderful waterway assets, developed and built a canoe trail from Drumshanbo through Battlebridge and Leitrim Village to Carrick on Shannon. It has also developed a series of looped walks adjacent to the Lough Allen Canal with plans to expand those walks to Drumshanbo and Carrick on Shannon. At the same time Waterways Ireland is also developing a canoe trail from Leitrim Village along the 63km of the Shannon Erne Waterway with a walking and cycling trail also at an advanced stage of planning.
The Shannon Blueway is being delivered by Waterways Ireland in partnership of the National Trails Office, Canoeing Ireland, Leitrim County Council, Leitrim Tourism and Fáilte Ireland.
Waterways Ireland Chief Executive Dawn Livingstone confirmed that partnership was the key to delivering the Shannon Blueway “Waterways Ireland has invested significantly in creating world beating facilities and services on the Shannon Navigation. Through our partnership with the National Trails Office, Canoeing Ireland, Leitrim Tourism and Leitrim County Council an outstanding multi-activity product has been built in the Shannon Blueway which is now being packaged by clubs and communities for their recreational activities and companies and organisations for domestic and international tourists. Partnership is key to delivering the future of the Shannon Blueway further into Leitrim, and indeed into Roscommon, Longford and Cavan.”
The wider Shannon Blueway of which the Drumshanbo to Carrick on Shannon section is part, is at the heart of access to 100km of paddling area, 6 looped walks: 3 of which are on the canal towpath, two long distance walks and three heritage trails. The Shannon Blueway will ultimately provide access to 14 towns and services with each access point and town within an hours’ paddling time.
Waterways Ireland and Leitrim County Council will shortly be examining the possibility of providing a connection from the jetties at Acres Lake to the canal towpaths and also to complete the walking/cycling connection to Carrick-on-Shannon, and up the Shannon-Erne Waterway.
Oct 28, 2014
The third annual Remembrance Run 5k will take place in the Phoenix Park on Sunday, November 9th. This year’s Remembrance Run – open to walkers, joggers and runners- will again have a Special Remembrance Theme of Family or Friends passed, or who may be currently struggling with illness or other life challenges.
This is a truly unique event with a wonderful atmosphere – commentary, music and a special Wall of Remembrance that was filled to capacity last year with signatures and special messages. This is an event that enables you to celebrate your own Gift of Days and Fullness of Health while remembering those close to us.
The Remembrance Run 5k is organised by Athletics Ireland in association with www.mycharity.ie. See full details of this year’s event at: www.remembrancerun.ie A video of highlights from last year’s event is also available on Youtube under the title-“Remembrance Run 5k”. Entry for the event is now open at: www.remembrancerun.ie Make a date today- to join with family, friends or work colleagues for a unique experience that will create lasting memories.
The ethos of the event is that of celebration as we want participants “to take some time out” to savour those precious memories of people past or those currently struggling with illness or other life challenges. In keeping with the ethos of the event there will be no chip timing for this year’s event as we encourage participants to forget the clock and enjoy the occasion.
Oct 28, 2014
The association:
The Irish National Archery Federation which was formed in the 1950’s changed its name to the Irish Amateur Archery Association in the 1970’s and is now known as Archery Ireland (AI). The association is affiliated to World Archery which itself recently changed it’s name from FITA (Fédération Internationale de Tir à l’Arc). The current membership of archery Ireland now stands at 1300 full members and a further 3000 associated members. The associated membership is made up of the, Irish Student Archery Association, the Northern Ireland Archery Society and IFAF (Irish Field Archery Federation). As the governing body for Archery in Ireland, AI is responsible for governing all forms of archery including; Target Archery sometimes known as Olympic Archery, Field Archery and 3D archery, all of which are governed by World Archery rules.
First Olympic Medal:
Under the rules of the 1908 Olympic Games which were held in London, women were only allowed to take part in sport if they were fully clothed. As archery was the only sport where this was possible, Beatrice Geraldine Hill-Low born 1st Jan 1868 and from Ardee Co Louth, was chosen to represent Ireland. With archers shooting a traditional long bow, competing over two days and shooting 40 arrows at 60 yards and 24 arrows at 50 yards on both days, Beatrice took the bronze medal for Ireland.
http://www.irisholympians.com/2012/07/beatrice-hill-lowe-irelands-first.html
Modern Equipment:
Currently the majority of archers shoot either a recurve bow or a compound bow with speeds in excess of 400 feet per second. The recurve bow, often called an Olympic Bow which is used in the modern Olympics is shooting at a target 70mts away. The overall sizes of the target faces are 122cm, however the centre of the targets known as the X, measures 6.1 cm.
Competitions:
Unlike other sports; in archery all archers compete together on the shooting line, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. Archery has gained some popularity as a minority sport in Ireland over recent times and there are Archery Shoots organised throughout the Island of Ireland most weekends of the year. Details of these may be found on the Archery Ireland website and via various social media sites. The most common type of competition is the Olympic style event however, field archery is becoming more popular and this year saw the first ever 3D event held in Ireland under World Archery rules. 3D archery is a sport which simulates hunting, and allows archers to move around a forest setting and shoot at twenty four rubber animal targets.
Growth:
In 2010 the Irish Archery Association had five hundred members, which has grown to thirteen hundred in 2014. The growth can mainly be attributed to more TV coverage of the sport which has helped to increase awareness throughout the world, and also AI’s club development programme and assistance with grants to fund equipment for new club. There has been a wide range of people taking up archery with the youngest member of Archery Ireland just 4 years old and the eldest member over seventy.
Beginner’s lessons:
Beginner’s lessons are available at all Archery Ireland clubs and generally run for six weeks. Participants are advised not to purchase archery equipment until after completion of the course. They are then directed to specialised retailers who can with assess the appropriate poundage and measurements of bows, so that new archers are set up with equipment that will safely allow them to reach their potential.
Remuneration:
As with any sport; the more time and commitment that any individual puts into it, the more they will benefit. Regardless of whether archery is for them a form of relaxation, or a means of competing at a friendly or more competitive level, local clubs can assist and support every member. In order to become a high ranking archer in Ireland, and to attend international competitions, an athlete needs to train five days a week. On average a days training will consist of shooting approximately 350 arrows with a draw weight of about 44lb for each arrow. This will give a total draw weight for the week of approximately 30 tons. At this level, both body fitness and mental fitness play a big part in an athlete’s training. The amount time invested in psychological training compared to the time invested physical training will differ from archer to archer, however a generally accepted ratio would be 70% psychological and 30% physical.
Recent achievements:
In the 2013 World Championship held in Antailya, Turkey, acher Mel Lawton shooting in the ladies compound section came 8th which is the highest place ever achieved by an Irish archer in this category. While at the same event and in his 11th World Championship, archer Keith Hanlon came 11th in the gents recurve section. This is another highest standard achieved by an Irish archer in this category. The next major international event which many archery are currently in training for is the European Games in Bakue 2015.
For further information on archery why not visit our website, www.Archery.ie
Twitter – @ArcheryIreland
