Apr 8, 2015
SETTING a new high in Irish sporting achievement, 19 year-old Bertram Allen has today (Tuesday) entered the top ten of the world’s best show jumping riders.
In the official Longines World Rider Rankings, which measure the monthly performances of over 2,000 riders internationally, Wexford-born Allen has today for the first time achieved tenth position, putting him amongst the global elite of the sport.
With two recent World Cup Qualifying competition wins under his belt, Allen has 2355 points in the Longines rankings today, with Germany’s Daniel Deusser in the lead with 2825 points.
The teenager won his first ever World Cup competition at Verona late last year aboard Ballywalter Farms’s mare Molly Malone V, and then followed that up in February with another win at Verona in Italy on Billy Twomey’s stallion Romanov, a horse which also gave him victory in the German Grand Prix at Dortmund in March.
Allen is also the only Irish rider to qualify for the FEI World Cup final at Las Vegas in April, and is now one of the favourites to take the trophy. If he does, he will be the youngest rider in 30 years to achieve this honour, and the first show jumper from Ireland to claim first place. The nearest Ireland has come to taking the World Cup crown were runner-up places from Trevor Coyle and the legendary Cruising in 1999 and Jessica Kurten with Castle Forbes Libertina in 2006. Eddie Macken and Carrolls of Dundalk also placed third in the World Cup Final in 1979.
Allen says of his methods: “You have to be dedicated, relaxed and quiet. Horses have to live and work in a simple, natural way. You have to do what is necessary to be where you want to be. You have to improve yourself by learning from the best, and then the opportunities will come.”
Mar 31, 2015
The Grant Thornton Corporate 5k Team Challenge is back by popular demand in the Dublin Docklands on Tuesday 1st of September for the fourth year in a row. It is also expanding to two new locations the National Sports Campus in Fingal on Wednesday 13th of May and The Mall, Cork City on Tuesday 30th of June. The Corporate Challenge is organised by the national governing body Athletics Ireland as one of their key fundraising events to support young emerging athletes. Participants are encouraged to fundraise for the chosen charity the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children through my.charity.ie. The ISPCC will also receive 10% of all entrants’ fees. http://www.grantthorntoncorporatechallenge.ie/
In 2014 entries hit a record high of close to 1000 teams or 4000 participants. Given the success of the race it will be rolled out to two new locations to allow more of the business community to experience this unique event. The new locations and dates are the National Sports Campus in Fingal on Wednesday 13th of May and The Mall, Cork City on Tuesday 30th of June with the flagship event taking place in the Dublin Docklands on Tuesday 1st of September.
The Corporate Challenge is organised by the national governing body Athletics Ireland whose mission is to support and develop the athletes of Ireland of all ages, disciplines and abilities. Aimed at encouraging social running amongst the business community in Dublin and Cork, the event welcomes both seasoned runners as well as beginners. Each run will be a team event and a minimum of four participants will enter with team members’ times combined to determine the winner.
Paul McCann, Managing Partner with Grant Thornton said: “The Corporate Challenge is a great opportunity to build team spirit and to create a sense of healthy competition. This event goes from strength to strength every year with more people participating. We are delighted to partner with Athletics Ireland and to support the work that they do to promote fitness and making a difference to young promising athletes.”
“We recognise the importance of promoting fitness and by supporting this event, we also hope that we are enhancing the awareness of the important role it can play in the workplace. In addition, it’s a great opportunity to raise some funds for charity and this year, 10% of each entry fee to each Challenge will go to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) to support the work it is doing to build stronger, healthier families, who can cope with challenges, solve problems and raise happy, resilient children.”
Event Ambassador, Olympian and former London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan commented on last year’s run, “There was a great buzz and atmosphere. While there was a certain competitive edge to it, there was a little more banter than what I would be use to at the start of a race. As an athlete it gave my heart a lift to see so many people out running and keeping themselves fit and healthy”.
John Foley, Chief Executive of Athletics Ireland, said “As an association one of our core strategic objectives is to promote health and fitness in the population as a whole. This event enables us to reach beyond our core membership into the business community by encouraging them to focus on a fitness programme which targets a 5k run; a good starter point for novice runners. We are delighted that we are adding new locations and we can extend this positive impact to over 7600 participants.”
Foley added: “Financial stability is central to delivery of our strategic plans, in addition to funds received from the Irish Sports Council we generate 50% of our own revenue. Grant Thornton’s sponsorship of this event allows for it to be a revenue earner for the association with profits generated channelled into our Junior High Performance Athletics programmes. These programmes provide support and expertise to close to 100 of our emerging young athletes to help them to fulfil their potential.”
Entry fee is €100 for a team of four, all events are chipped timed for accuracy and there is a t-shirt and goody bag for all participates.
Participants are encouraged to fundraise for the chosen charity Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) through mycharity.ie.
To ENTER your team now and download Catherina McKiernan’s training programme go to www.grantthorntoncorporatechallenge.ie.
Mar 23, 2015
Mar 12, 2015
Minister of State for Sport, Michael Ring, has announced the opening of the 2015 round of the Sports Capital Programme.
Minister Ring said: ‘When these grants are allocated later this year, this Government will have committed almost €130 million for the development of vital sports infrastructure across the country. This is testament to the Government’s belief in the value and power of sport to strengthen communities and gives people greater opportunities to engage in sport.
“The provision of an additional €40 million under this new round is key to facilitating participation in sport among local communities. With 90% of grantees telling us that the facilities we have funded helped them increase the numbers involved in sport, the value of the Programme can be in no doubt.
The Programme, will facilitate successful applicants in carrying out essential works on pitches and facilities such as clubhouses and dressing rooms. It will also provide for the purchase of new equipment.
The Minister said: “The record number of applications received under the last two rounds of the Programme is testament to its value and the continuing need for improved facilities in every corner of the country. I would encourage all those who are interested to ensure that they are registered on the online system before 5pm on Friday, 10th April 2015 (if not already registered) and to get their applications in online at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie before 5pm on Friday, 24th April 2015.”
Mar 3, 2015
IPB, who underwrite the Federation’s group insurance scheme delivered in partnership with JLT, have launched their 2015 community fund. The fund provides financial assistance to grassroots organisations who bring real and lasting change to local communities. Last year the IPB Fund supported over 50 different sporting projects nationwide including 2 NGB club initiatives.
IPB is the first Irish company to formally adopt a system of allocating a social dividend. Since 2012 IPB has allocated €8 million to 360 community organisations. Interested organisations can apply for either €5,000, €10,000 or €20,000 and must have 10% of the funding in place themselves to support the project.
The 2015 Fund will support projects that look to address at least one of the following areas:
- healthier and more active communities;
- new ways of working with young; and
- older people and/or improving frontline services and facilities in the community
Please note that applications for the fund close at 5pm on 20th March. Further details on the IPB Community Engagement Fund 2015 can be found at: http://cse.ipb.ie/
The Federation of Irish Sport Group Insurance Scheme was established in 2012. Underwritten by IPB the scheme is delivered in partnership with JLT. More details on the scheme which has delivered enhanced consistency of cover and cost as well as improvements in service can be found at http://jltsport.ie/
Mar 3, 2015
Fáilte Ireland’s Business Tourism and Events Unit is delighted to introduce Event Ireland, the newest addition to our suite of supports. The team is tasked with growing international bed nights through the events sector. This will be achieved by identifying, bidding for and winning events for Ireland in partnership with our stakeholders. We offer a range of practical and financial supports aimed at individuals and organisations bidding for events.
We have a range of bidding supports aimed at individuals and organisations bidding for eligible events (which can deliver over 100 international participants) which include:
Financial contribution towards:
- Event feasibility activity
- Bid document design & production
- Travel to present the bid
- Bid related networking event
- Site inspection costs
- *The Event budget if confirmed for Ireland on foot of bidding process (minimum of 6,000 bed nights required – case by case basis)
Practical supports
- Marketing collateral
- Introduction to approved businesses specialising in event management
- Convention Bureaux supports e.g. venue finding, accommodation, free and impartial service
- Advisory support throughout the process.
Jennifer Churchward, Event Ireland, Manager will present an at the CEO Forum Event on
Tuesday March 24th from 12:30pm-2pm at Irish Sport HQ.
In order to showcase Ireland as a first class event destination, Fáilte Ireland in partnership with Sport Tourism Ireland is hosting a familiarisation trip for International Sporting Federations, May 14-17.
The program offered to potential parties, will include a two day visit to Limerick, followed by a two day trip to Dublin with privileged access to some of Ireland’s most iconic sport and tourism attractions.
If you have an affiliation to an International Sporting Federation or Sport Tourism contact with the potential to bring an event to Ireland, Fáilte Ireland is offering you the opportunity to invite them on this trip to experience first-hand our excellent infrastructure, knowledge base and tourism offering.
FI International Federation Invitation 2015
Each itinerary will be tailor made to your individual interests.
To register your interest in nominating an International Federation or contact please contact-
Edel Mitchell
Tel: +353 1 8847 897
Email: edel.mitchell@failteireland.ie
or
Jennifer Churchward
Tel: 353 1 8847256
Email: jennifer.churchward@failteireland.ie
If you would like to attend the event, please contact Conn McCluskey, conn.mccluskey@irishsport.ie 01-6251155
