Sep 25, 2019
Irish Horses and riders have recorded an incredible result today (Sunday) at the FEI WBFSH Show Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium, taking home two Gold and two Silver medals. It was a spectacular performance from the Irish to claim four of the nine World Championship medals on offer.
Carlow’s Jason Foley and The Irish Sport Horse Rockwell RC, bred by Ronan Byrne and owned by Kevin Crumley, claimed Ireland’s first medal of the day when they struck Gold in the final for 5-year-old horses, while Kildare’s Mikey Pender and Chacco Bay collected the Silver. Eleven combinations had jumped clear in the opening round to set up a thrilling jump-off, with Foley taking the title with a double clear round in 37.72 seconds, just under half a second ahead of Pender in runner-up spot. The result came just 12 months after Irish riders took Gold, Silver and Bronze in the 5-year-old final at the same Championships in 2018.
Foley, who is just 18-years-old, admitted that he was struggling a bit with his steering in the jump-off, but for a very good reason.
“I dislocated my shoulder three weeks ago in a fall. I didn’t actually think that I could make it here, so I hope the hospital doesn’t see this, but I thought, let’s try it and I was lucky that it went OK!”
The 6-year-old final saw Mikey Pender add to his tally, when he collected another Silver medal with MHS Cardenta, finishing just a tenth of a second off the winners time. Kilkenny’s Vincent Byrne also claimed an excellent seventh place finish with Be Aware (ISH).
More medals were to follow in the curtain-closing 7-year-old final, with Kilkenny’s Seamus Hughes-Kennedy, who is just 17-years-old, and Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH), bred by Eamonn Sheahan, taking the winners prize when last to go in the jump-off to complete a brilliant World Championships for Irish Sport Horse breeding.
“Last year Cavadaro finished fourth in the 6-Year-Old Final with Ger O’Neill in the saddle. They were clear and in the lead until the last few competitors but just missed out on a medal, so I’m very pleased we’ve earned gold today,” said the talented young Irish rider. The future is already mapped out for this winning pair it seems. “We’re going for European Junior Gold next year!” said the rider’s mother, Clare Hughes, who also owns the winning horse.
Horse Sport Ireland CEO Ronan Murphy added:
“This has been a memorable World Breeding Championships for our horses and riders. To take home two gold and two silver medals against the best young horses in the world is another huge boost for the Irish Sport Horse industry. I want to congratulate all our riders, owners and of course the breeders of all our horses and the entire team who represented Ireland brilliantly at these Championships this week.”
BREEDING
Rockwell RC (ISH) F by Kannan (KWPN) out of Urban Sea (ISH) by Guidam (SF) bred by Ronan Byrne owned by Kevin Crumley ridden by Jason Foley.
Chacco Bay (OLDBG) by Chaccato out of Heops. Owner: Hiltrup Sporthorses GmbH. Breeder: Alfons Brueggehagen Ridden by Michael Pender
MHS Cardenta (ISH) F by Cardento (HOLST) out of Willow Point (ISH) by Diamond Serpent (ISH) bred by Thomas Brennan owned by Bravo Hughes Ltd ridden by Michael James Pender.
Be Aware (ISH) by Pacino (BWP) out of Warrenstown Well Aware (ISH) by Cruising (ISH) bred & owned by Ronan Tynan and ridden by Vincent Byrne
Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH) by Z Wellie 72 (KWPN) out of Cuffesgrange Cavalidam (ISH) by Luidam (KWPN) bred by Eamonn Sheahan, Owned by Clare Hughes, Ridden by Seamus Hughes Kennedy.
Sep 25, 2019
Baton Twirling Sport Association of Ireland
In August the BTSAI sent seventy one athletes to the International Cup Baton Twirling competition in Limoges, France. This event covers a total of seven disciplines with some of the sections having 80 contestants hoping to place in the first ten.
We are very proud of all our athletes making it into semis, finals and bringing home a total of eight medals. Four Gold, Two Silver and Two bronze.
Nineteen countries competed in this event with a total of 1,112 athletes and five thousand performances over four days of competition.
Well done Ireland!
Sep 25, 2019
Three Irish Women’s teams finished in the Top 8 of the Small Countries Association Senior Championships in Perth, Scotland over the weekend. The results signifying positive progress as Volleyball Ireland looks to increase participation and improve performance on the International stage.
The top ranked pairing of Miriam Gormally & Alex Graves came agonisingly close to a podium finish losing the 3rd place playoff match to the tournament and home favourites Lynne Beattie and Melissa Coutts. The first set was evenly poised at 16 a piece before three errors on the bounce allowed the Scottish pair to take control. The 2nd set was much of the same with several Irish attacks falling the wrong side of the tape. Cheered on by the vociferous home crowd the top seeds ran out winners 21-17, 21-13.
The Yiassoumi sisters of Cyprus had earlier defeated Ireland in the Semi Finals (21-12, 21-14) to setup a winner takes all v Iceland.
Commenting on the tournament Graves said, “it was really great to get back on the sand representing Ireland after the Continental Cup in June. All four teams battled really well and to get three in the top 8 is a good sign.”
Earlier on, Gormally & Graves beat fellow Girls in Green Marie Claire Sabogal and Fiona Lamont 21-14, 21-17. The match showing the competitive, yet friendly spirit of the Irish squad – although it did cause an agonising conflict of interest for Head Coach Luciana Hollanda, who took charge of all 4 competing teams.
Both teams cruised in to the Quarters with Gormally & Graves topping Pool B, before Sabogal and Lamont despatched of third seeds Emma Patterson & Lucy Kavanagh-Dick from Northern Ireland in one of the standout performances of the tournament in the round of 12 (21-17,21-17).
Also representing Ireland and taking home a credible joint 5th were Roisin Roantree and Volleyball Ireland Board Member Regina Halpin. Playing as a pair for the first time, the diminutive duo impressed with wins over NI’s Montgomery and Scott (21-9, 21-12) in the Pools before beating team mates Emily Frazell and Orla Lynch (21-7, 21-11) in the Round of 12. Their tournament ended with defeat to eventual winners Elisabeth Einasdottir and Berglind Jonsdottir (21-2, 21-5).
The competition was a debut on the sand for Emily Frazell, who joined the Irish setup in May as part of the SCA Indoor team that visited Luxembourg. Lynch was also donning the Green Vest for first time, and the debutants return home with their first Intl scalp after a victory over Rankin/Blair of Scotland (21-11, 21-13).
The Beach season now wraps up with the attentions off the court as the Association looks to gain Sports Capital Grant funding to develop the first Inland court in Ireland, whilst supporting the implementation of permanent posts on beaches across the country.
Full Results IRELAND
Rd Day Time Court Team 1 Team 2 Result
Pool Friday 12:10 2 Montgomery/Smith NIR Roantree/Halpin IRL 0-2 (8-21, 12-21)
Pool Friday 12:10 1 Graves/Gormally IRL Kelly/Richardson SCO 2-0 (21-8, 21-6)
Pool Friday 13:00 1 Sabogal/Lamont IRL Morrison/Waldie SCO 1-2 (21-18, 10-21, 6-15)
Pool Friday 13:50 2 Yiasoumi/Yiasoumi CYP Frazell/Lynch IRL 0-2 (21-9, 21-6)
Pool Friday 17:10 1 Beattie/Coutts SCO Roantree/Halpin IRL 2-0 (21-5, 21-10)
Pool Friday 16:20 1 Graves/Gormally IRL Morrison/Waldie SCO 2-0 (21-14, 21-12)
Pool Saturday 10:00 1 Rankin/Blair SCO Frazell/Lynch IRL 0-2 (11-21, 13-21)
Pool Saturday 10:00 2 Sabogal/Lamont IRL Kelly/Richardson SCO 2-0 (21-6, 21-8)
Rd of 12 Saturday 14:10 2 Sabogal/Lamont IRL Patterson/Dick-Kavanagh NIR 2-0 (21-17, 21-17)
Rd of 12 Saturday 13:20 2 Frazell/Lynch IRL Roantree/Halpin IRL 0-2 (7-21, 11-21)
QF Saturday 17:30 1 Sabogal/Lamont IRL Graves/Gormally IRL 0-2 (14-21, 17-21)
QF Saturday 16:40 1 Einarsdottir/Jonsdottir ICE Roantree/Halpin IRL 2-0 (21-2, 21-5)
SF Sunday 10:00 1 Graves/Gormally IRL Yiassoumi/ Yiassoumi CYP 0-2 (12-21, 14-21)
3rd Place Sunday 12:00 1 Beattie/Coutts SCO Graves/Gormally IRL 2-0 (21-17, 21-13)
Sep 25, 2019
Galway lead shortlist for 2019 Camogie All-Stars Awards nominations
All-Ireland champions Galway lead the Camogie All-Stars Awards 2019 shortlist. The final team will be announced at the 16th annual Camogie All-Stars Awards banquet, sponsored by Liberty Insurance in Citywest Hotel on Saturday October 19th. This year’s winning team will also have the added incentive of the second All-Stars Tour to New York in November to look forward to, where they will be joined by the 2018 winners as well.
Galway receive 14 nominations. Goalkeeper Sarah Healy and defenders Heather Cooney, Sarah Dervan, Shauna Healy, Emma Helebert, Tara Kenny and Lorraine Ryan are amongst the nominees for the Tribeswomen. Aoife Donohue and Niamh Kilkenny are nominated at midfield, whilst Noreen Coen, Catriona Cormican, Carrie Dolan, Niamh Hanniffy and Ailish O’Reilly are nominated amongst the forwards.
Runners-up Kilkenny receive 13 nominations. Goalkeeper Emma Kavanagh and defenders Kellyann Doyle, Catherine Foley, Edwina Keane, Claire Phelan and Grace Walsh are amongst the nominees. Meighan Farrell and Davina Tobin have been nominated in midfield whilst Anne Dalton, Denise Gaule, Katie Power, Michelle Quilty and Miriam Walsh are all nominated in the forwards positions.
Tipperary receive nine nominations as a result of their run to this year’s Semi-Finals. Goalkeeper Caoimhe Bourke and defenders Julianne Bourke, Karen Kennedy, Eimear Loughman and Clodagh Quirke are joined by midfielder Mary Ryan and forwards Cáit Devane, Ereena Fryday and Eibhlís McDonald on the nominations list.
Cork receive four nominations having exited the Championship at the hands of eventual champions Galway in the Semi-Finals. Defenders Hannah Looney and Pamela Mackey receive nominations along with forwards Linda Collins and Amy O’Connor.
Waterford, who reached this year’s Quarter-Finals before also losing to Galway have four nominations as well. Lorraine Bray is nominated in defence and Áine Lyng is nominated in midfield. Forwards Beth Carton and Niamh Rockett also receive nominations.
Limerick, who reached the knockout stages for the first time this year, have one nomination in the form of their top scorer Niamh Mulcahy.
Ian Brick (Kerry), Johnny Greville (Westmeath) and Cathal Murray (Galway) are amongst the nominees for Manager of the Year, which will also be announced on the night. Each of them was successful in leading their sides to All-Ireland glory this year.
President of the Camogie Association Kathleen Woods congratulated the nominees stating that “2019 was another exceptional year in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Championships and the upcoming All-Stars Awards will celebrate some of the outstanding individual performers who contributed greatly to a thoroughly enjoyable summer in what was a great showcase for our game. An All-Stars Award nomination recognises the outstanding achievements of our players and it is truly deserving for these tremendous role models to receive such recognition for their efforts. I wish to thank our sponsors Liberty Insurance for their continued sponsorship of the Camogie All-Stars Awards and the 2019 All-Stars Tour to New York, which will add even greater excitement to a wonderful night on October 19th.”
Speaking on behalf of Liberty Insurance, Stuart Trotter said: “The Camogie All-Stars Awards celebrate the outstanding performances of the players who have helped to light up this year’s Championship. The skill, commitment and athleticism demonstrated by these players has elevated them to the very pinnacle of their sport. Their All-Stars nominations is deserved recognition for these same performances.
“Our ‘Camogie Made Us’ campaign, launched in July, focused on the important role Camogie coaches play in the development of players at grassroots level.
“The nominations we received articulated not only the skills being taught to the players by their coaches, but also the off-the-pitch guidance and mentoring they are providing to players on a more human level. This includes mindfulness programmes and social media awareness workshops, amongst other initiatives.
“Each of our Camogie All-Star nominees can attest to the pivotal role their coaches have played in helping them to get to where they are today. As our attention now turns towards the All-Stars Tour to New York in November, we wish each of our nominees the very best of luck on October 19th.”
The nominees for the 2019 Soaring Stars Awards for the Intermediate and Premier Junior Championships will be announced later this week.
Nominees for the Camogie Association/WGPA Senior, Intermediate and Junior Players’ Player of the Year Awards sponsored by Liberty Insurance will be announced next week.
Camogie All-Stars Awards 2019 sponsored by Liberty Insurance, nominees list:
Goalkeepers: Caoimhe Bourke (Tipperary), Emma Kavanagh (Kilkenny), Sarah Healy (Galway)
Full-Back Line: Julianne Bourke (Tipperary), Sarah Dervan (Galway), Catherine Foley (Kilkenny), Shauna Healy (Galway), Edwina Keane (Kilkenny), Tara Kenny (Galway), Eimear Loughman (Tipperary), Pamela Mackey (Cork), Grace Walsh (Kilkenny)
Half-Back Line: Lorraine Bray (Waterford), Heather Cooney (Galway), Kellyann Doyle (Kilkenny), Emma Helebert (Galway), Karen Kennedy (Tipperary), Hannah Looney (Cork), Claire Phelan (Kilkenny), Clodagh Quirke (Tipperary), Lorraine Ryan (Galway)
Midfield: Aoife Donohue (Galway), Meighan Farrell (Kilkenny), Niamh Kilkenny (Galway), Áine Lyng (Waterford), Mary Ryan (Tipperary), Davina Tobin (Kilkenny)
Half-Forward Line: Anne Dalton (Kilkenny), Carrie Dolan (Galway), Ereena Fryday (Tipperary), Denise Gaule (Kilkenny), Eibhlís McDonald (Tipperary), Niamh Mulcahy (Limerick), Amy O’Connor (Cork), Katie Power (Kilkenny), Niamh Rockett (Waterford)
Full-Forward Line: Beth Carton (Waterford), Noreen Coen (Galway), Linda Collins (Cork), Catriona Cormican (Galway), Cáit Devane (Tipperary), Niamh Hanniffy (Galway), Ailish O’Reilly (Galway), Michelle Quilty (Kilkenny), Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny)
Manager of the Year 2019 sponsored by Liberty Insurance, nominees list:
Ian Brick (Kerry), Johnny Greville (Westmeath), Cathal Murray (Galway)
ENDS
Sep 18, 2019
We are asking the Government as part of Budget 2020 to deliver the second (of ten) phase of core funding this year, to remain online to double funding over the 10-year lifetime of the National Sports Policy 2018–2027, as per Action 45 of that policy. Sport plays an incomparable role in Ireland when it comes to social inclusivity, people and volunteers, health and wellbeing, financial return and community spirit.
The National Sports Policy, launched by Government in July 2018, has the potential to be transformative for every member, organisation and association involved in sports, and is built upon the pillars that we as a country hold dear.
Delivering upon the commitments outlined in the National Sports Policy will showcase that plans are achievable with funding, and programmes aimed at achieving greater participation and diversity and inclusion are achievable when people have adequate support.
It is vital that our members continue to build on the excellent work they have carried out to date. For this to happen, it is critical that the necessary funding is consistently provided on an annual basis, as 25% of LSP’s and 33% of NGB’s cite funding as the single biggest challenge they face in delivering on their objectives.
The Federation of Irish Sport is calling on the Government to redirect 4.2% of overall Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax exchequer returns specifically to combat obesity and increase participation in sport in Ireland, as part of Budget 2020.
The Sugar Sweetened Drinks (SSD) Tax, specifically introduced as a behavioural change measure, has seen the Exchequer benefit to the tune of almost €32m in its first 12 months of application. By allocating €1.35m (just 4.2%) of this revenue stream, Ireland would see a new programme developed and implemented to combat the obesity issue we are experiencing in this country, while increasing participation in sport, a key objective of the National Sports Policy.
The Federation of Irish Sport is calling on the Government to use revenues generated by the Betting Tax to develop and implement communication and educational programmes on the importance of sport and the protection of those at risk in our sporting community.
The increased betting tax, introduced as part of Budget 2019, is expected to double excise receipts to almost €52m per year. This is a substantial sum which could be used to develop educational programmes to prevent and reduce problem gambling. While participation and support for sporting activity is hugely beneficial in terms of physical, mental and emotional well-being, problem gambling on sporting events is also a huge issue for individuals, families and communities across Ireland.The Federation of Irish Sport is very alive to this issue. However, developing and delivering educational programmes for teenagers, adults and parents who engage with our sporting clubs, requires ongoing resourcing and investment. We are therefore seeking a portion of the Betting Tax revenue to enable our NGBs to develop and deliver dedicated programmes addressing to the threat of gambling.
The Federation of Irish Sport is calling on the Government to ensure that the Sports Capital Programme is open for new applications on an annual basis, and that a measure is put in place to ensure that 1% of every sports capital grant over €250,000 must be used to fund an associated participation project.
In order to continue the growth and development of Irish sport at local level, and for our clubs and athletes to excel on the international stage, it is imperative that the Sports Capital Grant programme is administered on an annual basis, and that it is open for new applications each year. In addition, the ‘Per Cent for Art Scheme’ introduced by the Department of Arts, Heritage and Culture has proven very effective and was recently reviewed to increase its bands and limits. Sport in Ireland, however, has no such scheme. Funding for the Sports Capital Grants was almost €40 million this year. This is incredibly important to building infrastructure and facilities in every community in Ireland and to benefit people in that locality in terms of health, social interaction and physical activity. By committing 1% of any grant over €250,000 into people and programmes means that these state-of-the-art facilities are utilised to engage current members and new audiences.
This will ensure that programmes are developed to increase participation, inclusivity, diversity of gender and ethnic origin.
In order to increase much needed donations to sports capital projects from individuals, the Federation of Irish Sport is calling on the Government to lower the eligibility threshold for capital reliefs on individual donations for sports capital projects to €200.
Currently (under the section 847A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997) a donation is a relevant donation for the purposes of section 847A TCA where it satisfies many conditions, including;
• the donation is the payment of a sum or sums of money amounting to at least €250 in a year of assessment for a donation by an individual; and at least €250 in an accounting period for a donation by a company. Where an accounting period is less than 12 months the €250 is proportionally reduced, e.g. if the accounting period is six months the donation must be at least €125.
Donations can only be accepted for previously granted projects via the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. These projects often require a significant amount of additional funding to complete and equip. If the eligibility threshold for capital reliefs on individual donations to sports capital projects was reduced by 20% this would have a double monetary benefit to sports clubs and associations all over the country, while also increasing possibilities of individuals making more feasible donations of €200 over a 12-month period. Similarly, where the accounting period is less than 12 months, the €200 should be proportionally reduced, e.g. if the account period is three months the donation would only have to be at least €50.
The Federation of Irish Sport is calling on the Government to establish a scheme dedicated to philanthropic financial support for Ireland’s high-performance programme.
BlackGold, a public-private philanthropic initiative was established in New Zealand with a focus on high net-worth kiwis (and international individuals / organisations) who have a passion for sport and who want to invest in New Zealand’s sporting success.
BlackGold matches the passion and interests of potential donors with National Sports Organisation projects, over and above what the Government or Sport New Zealand can fund. It is recognised in the National Sport Policy that Ireland would ‘regard our real competitors as those countries with a population size similar to ours (i.e. less than 10m). New Zealand invested €152.1m in high performance sports funding during the Rio Olympic cycle (2013-2016), compared to Ireland’s investment of €37.6m during the same time period. By establishing a dedicated stream of philanthropic funding specific to High Performance Sport in Ireland, it would excel our facilities, coaches, athletes and associations, delivering increased Olympic and Paralympic success.
Sep 16, 2019
Record Numbers for Ladies Football Finals on TG4
TG4’s coverage of the TG4 Ladies Football Championships culminated yesterday with the live broadcast of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Finals from Croke Park. A new record was set yesterday with 56,114 people in attendance; the largest-ever attendance to date at Croke Park for Ladies Football, up from 50,141 in 2018. It was also only narrowly beaten by the FIFA World Cup final as the largest audience at any women’s sports event this year which had an attendance of 57,900.
According to official TAM Ireland figures, the TV viewership also made a huge impact. In all, 666,000 tuned into TG4’s coverage of finals day yesterday, with an average audience of 252,500 people watching the live broadcast of the Senior Final between Dublin and Galway a rise of over 70,000 viewers from the 2018 Ladies Football Final. This is the second highest viewing figure for a Ladies’ final on TG4 since it first started to broadcast the games back in 2001.
The match took a 30% share of viewing among individuals, making TG4 comfortably the most popular channel in Ireland yesterday afternoon. Viewing peaked at 5.19pm with 358,400 viewers as Dublin closed in on the three in a row to retain the Brendan Martin Cup.
TG4 Director General Alan Esslemont says ‘TG4 is extremely proud of our partnership with the LGFA and Lidl. Women’s sport is a central pillar of TG4 audience strategy for many years and it is wonderful to see the profile now being given to these world-class sportswomen. We are proud partners in the 20 x 20 Women in Sport campaign and are extremely proud that TG4’s women’s sport alliance with Ladies Football will indeed be 20 in 20. We are already looking forward to marking the lead up our twentieth anniversary with a flourish, both on-screen and with events in the community in Ireland and abroad.’
Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Marie Hickey, said: “We are very fortunate that TG4 continue to be our Championship sponsors and broadcast our games, not just nationally, but to a worldwide audience. I extend a heartfelt thanks to Alan Esslemont and all of the team at TG4, as we reflect on another record-breaking Sunday. It’s now full steam ahead for the 2020 season, a year that will mark the 20th of our long-standing partnership. The #ProperFan hashtag was trending heavily throughout TG4 All-Ireland Final Sunday and the viewership figures are reflective of our sport’s growing popularity.”
ENDS
Media Contact
Deirdre Ní Choistín – Bainisteoir Cumarsáide TG4
Deirdre.ni.choistin@tg4.ie +861453527
