Feb 21, 2013
Combining Sports Science with Sports Retail to Improve Physical Health
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny launched the new partnership between Elverys Sport , the leading sports retailer, and Coaching Ireland, the organisation charged with improving the standards of coaching in Irish sport on an all island basis.
An Taoiseach said at the launch: “The Elverys brand has been synonymous with sport in Ireland for many years now. This exciting and innovative partnership with Coaching Ireland is a good example of how the public and private sector can successfully complement one another. It is a win-win situation for everybody and especially those who are actively engaged in healthy and sporting pursuits.
This innovative partnership will see Elverys support programmes of Coaching Ireland through the provision of a new education resource. In return Coaching Ireland will train and accredit Elverys staff in the technical and scientific aspects of sport and physical activity as well as provide information factsheets to customers of Elverys either in store or online.
The CEO of Elverys Sports Patrick Rowland welcomed the new partnership: “We welcome our new partner, Coaching Ireland and we look forward to many years of working together in the promotion of sport and physical activity. This unique partnership brings together private and public organisations and thereby galvanises the combined wealth of knowledge, for the benefit of the public and society at large. Our customers will have access to a wide range of technical and scientific information on aspects of sport and physical activity”.
John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council said; “There is a significant increase in participation in sport and physical activity and we all must do everything we can to sustain and grow that interest. The retail sector is uniquely placed to positively influence new participants and that is why we see so much value in the new initiative with Elverys”.
Sport is making a significant contribution to the Irish economy. The most recent Council study of the economic impact of sport showed that 2% of the overall value of consumer spending is on sport and sport-related goods and services. Sport and sport-related activities support over 38,000 full-time equivalent jobs, or over 2% of the overall level of employment in Ireland.
Participation in sport increased from 34% in 2009 to 46% in 2011. Sedentarism fell from 16% in 2009 to 13% in 2011. This means that sport is making a significant contribution to the health of the nation as research consistently highlights the contribution that physical activity makes to individual and community health. Regular physical activity reduces risks of stroke, diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure and many other conditions. Increased participation in physical activity will improve the physical health of the nation thus reducing our expenditure on the treatment of illness. Elverys and Coaching Ireland plan to play their part in achieving this laudable goal.
Michael McGeehin, Director of Coaching Ireland said “There is a high level of expertise within Coaching Ireland that we want to pass onto everyone involved in sport and physical activity. We are delighted to be involved with Elverys because it gives us a new means to communicate with a wide range of people who are interested in sport and they are providing us with additional, vital resources”.
This partnership is the first of its kind in Ireland and the amalgamated expertise of both Elverys and Coaching Ireland staff will bring together , on the shop floor, sports retail and sports science which will afford huge benefits to consumers.
Coaching Ireland has the lead role in the development of coaching on an all island basis, highlighting the importance of quality coaching in developing our sportspeople and providing opportunities for participants. It is an operational unit of the Irish Sports Council, the statutory agency for sport in Ireland.
Elverys Sports, the leading authentic sports retailer, has daily interaction with people interested in sport and physical exercise and are ideally positioned to promote their benefits. Customers at Elverys will have access to relevant and up-to-date scientific information and advice from trained staff and from information packs developed by Coaching Ireland. Special information events and forums , under the auspices of Elverys and Coaching Ireland, will be held, at which leading coaches will present. These events will cater for the needs of all sports people whether beginners or mature, in keeping with Elverys motto “Sport for Life”.
Feb 21, 2013
Powerade, the brand responsible for hydrating athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is today launching its partnership with Athletics Ireland as Official Sports Drink of Athletics Ireland.
Powerade will be used by the athletes in training and competition to assist hydration, performance and aid recovery. Ireland’s leading 400m athlete Brian Gregan was on hand to launch the exciting new partnership. Brian currently lies top of the 2013 European Indoor rankings over 400m and will start as one of the favourites to take the title at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden from the 1st-3rd of March.
Jennifer Branigan, Brand Activation Manager for Powerade Ireland, commented, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Athletics Ireland as Official Sports Drink this year. Powerade ION4 hydrates and fuels working bodies, giving athletes the potential to train harder, go for longer and perform better, to achieve what they are capable of”.
John Foley, Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland, commented, “Powerade is passionate about supporting athletics in Ireland. This is an exciting new partnership and we are looking forward to working with Powerade this year”.
Feb 18, 2013
Annalise Murphy’s outstanding fourth-place finish in the Laser Radial at London 2012 was rewarded again today (Monday) with the Irish Sailor of the Year prize by Afloat magazine.
Last August Ireland’s best Olympic sailing result in 30 years in any class was watched by countless numbers of TV viewers across Ireland and beyond.
And it was more than enough to earn the young sailor the honour of being named Sailor of the Year for 2012, topping a shortlist that featured fellow Olympic challengers Peter O’Leary and David Burrows, and such up-and-coming talents as Sophie Browne, Finn Lynch and Fionn Lynden.
The accolade recognises a remarkable 12 months of achievement for the young athlete, capped off by her stirring performance at the London Games.
Despite the heartbreak of so narrowly missing out on Olympic bronze in the medal race, her accomplishment was appreciated far beyond the Irish sailing community, and raised the profile of the sport in Ireland immeasurably.
The then 22-year-old, who sails for the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire, had the entire country on edge last August as she battled with what Afloat’s own WM Nixon described as the “fierce challenge” of being top of the Women’s Laser Radial class, in stature as well as performance.
At 6ft 1in, the woman they call ‘The Irish Lever’ was undoubtedly the tallest in her 41-boat fleet at London 2012, and some British yachting pundits were quick to put down her early regatta wins purely to her larger frame.
But Murphy – who headed to the Olympics with confidence after a podium finish at the Skandia Sail for Gold, and a medal at Weymouth the previous year – proved that her success was no fluke, holding the gold medal position for almost half the regatta and entering the last race in third place overall.
Facing unbelievable pressure as the regatta reached its final stages on the Nothe course in Weymouth, in tricky conditions that would spread wide the times of most club racers, it’s to Murphy’s estimable credit that she was able to keep so tight with the front-runners, and it was only in the last few seconds – and last few metres – that she was knocked out of the bronze position.
We’ll never forget the tears she shed after the medal race’s conclusion – the whole of Ireland shared in her heartbreak. But we also shared the belief that that was but one setback in a world-class sailing career that’s only just beginning.
Considering the talented and dedicated NYC sailor and UCD student is still only 23, there’s clearly plenty of sailing success awaiting in her future, and she starts 2013 on her ‘Road to Rio’ aiming to clinch a medal at the
2016 Olympic Games.
In spite of losing out on a podium finish at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami earlier this month, the fact that she came so close – and led the charge in the early stages – proves that she can stand proudly with the elite in her class. And she’ll have another chance to prove herself in the next round of the ISAF World Cup in Palma de Mallorca on 30 March.
Annalise is currently training in Cadiz, Spain.
http://afloat.ie/home/item/20926-annalise-murphy-is-irish-sailor-of-the-year
Feb 11, 2013
Toyota Ireland has announced that it has become the new Official Car Sponsor to Cricket Ireland.
The three year deal will see Toyota providing a fleet of vehicles to Cricket Ireland including the Avensis and the Auris, to support the operational and business needs of Cricket Ireland, and to also support the strategic development programme for the sport in Ireland.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Ian Corbett, Marketing Operations Manager for Toyota Ireland said, “We, at Toyota Ireland, are delighted to announce this sponsorship with Cricket Ireland. Cricket Ireland has emerged as a top class professional sporting organisation. Its strategic plan to 2015 is ambitious and focused and we look forward to supporting their efforts to grow and strengthen the game in Ireland.
Our aim is to support cricket at elite level in Ireland’s drive towards qualification to future World Cups but also at grassroots where the cricket development programme is increasing participation in the sport right across Ireland.”
Also commenting Dennis Cousins, Head of Commercial, Cricket Ireland said: “Cricket Ireland are delighted to welcome Toyota on board as our new Official Car Sponsor. Toyota’s national presence and popularity supports our plans to build on the increased levels of interest, participation and coverage of cricket throughout Ireland. We are excited about this new relationship which brings together two organizations who have great heritage in Ireland, and who are both committed to continuous improvement and excellence with equally matched high ambitions. We look forward to working with Toyota into the future on our journey to becoming a Full Member Test Nation.”
The Irish Cricket Team are ranked number 10 in the world in T20 Cricket and recently competed in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in Sept/October 2012. The team are ranked No.11 in 50 over
cricket while the Irish Women’s team are ranked No.10. Ireland is also the top associate cricket nation in the world.
The Irish team will host England in the one day RSA Challenge match in Malahide on 3rd Sept 2013 which will be televised live on Sky Sports. The Irish team will also play a number of other fixtures against test nations next year in addition to World Cup Qualifiers and ICC Inter-Continental Cup Matches.
There are currently over 34,000 actively participating in cricket in Ireland with in the region of 140 Cricket Clubs and over 900 Senior and Junior teams in all of Ireland.
Feb 1, 2013
Patrick Wall has been appointed as the new Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland following his nomination by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar.
Patrick Wall is Professor of Public Health at University College Dublin, and is qualified both as a veterinary surgeon and a medical doctor. He was nominated by Minister Varadkar, in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Simon Coveney, and with Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring, and appointed by the board of directors of Horse Sport Ireland today.
“Patrick Wall brings a wealth of experience and expertise which will enable Horse Sport Ireland to develop further in the years ahead, building on the very solid foundation which has been laid for the organisation by outgoing Chairman Joe Walsh. His previous experience as a chairman and a chief executive will be useful in this role, along with his ongoing participation in equestrian sports. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Joe for his exemplary work in bringing the different elements of equestrian sport together and his contribution to the sport,” Minister Varadkar said.
Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring said: ‘This appointment marks the start of a new era for equestrian sport in Ireland. Patrick Wall is the ideal candidate for this position, and I look forward to working with him in the future’.
Patrick Wall is qualified as both a veterinary surgeon and a medical doctor and is presently a Professor of Public Health in University College Dublin. He was co-author of the 2010 UCD report on Horse Welfare in Ireland commissioned by World Horse Welfare. He is a co-director of the UCD/Redmills Advanced Certificate in Applied Equine Husbandry, a new course developed for individuals from the fledging Chinese sports horse industry. He is the former head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and a former Chairman of the European Food Safety Authority.
A keen horseman, Dr Wall has shown and judged young horses, produced riding horses for the Ridden Hunter classes, participated in hunter trials and one-day-event competitions, and ridden in Point-to-Points. During the past couple of years, Dr Wall led the RDS Breeding Group appointed to investigate the lack of success of Irish-bred horses at the top end of showjumping competition.
