Kenya’s Olympic Gold Medallist Wilfred Bungei visited the Olympic Council of Ireland offices this afternoon.

He is in Dublin as part of Africa Athletics Week as guest of honor of Africa Week, organised by its Chairperson Mubarak Habib .

Wilfred is the 800 metres Gold Medal winner from the Beijing Olympics and former 800 metres World Indoor champion.

Wilfred who will be facilitating the coaching workshops and officiating at the Morton Stadium said he “ looks forward to helping in the development of young athletes in Ireland, coming from the village of Kabirirsang in Nandi County, we have produced many World champions from grassroots with full community support” adding “ I am very happy to share my experience of growing future champions and from what I hear you have great potential emerging from the villages, towns and cities of your country”.

(Wilfred is pictured with fellow Olympic Medallist and OCI Chief Executive Stephen Martin)

Ireland’s Chris Bryan began his World Championship preparations with intent as he was the first man home at the Portugal Open Water Nationals today.

As a qualifier for the home nation and for British Open Water Swimmers, a strong field of 43 swimmers started the race.  Bryan started strong keeping with the leaders throughout and with just over 3 Kilometres to go took a commanding lead he never gave up.

The Ennis man who trains at Swim Ireland’s Performance Centre in Limerick  finished in a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 15 seconds, over 90 seconds ahead of his closest competitor Portugal’s Arseniy Lavrentyev (2:03:50). Jack Burnell was the best of the British, finishing 3^rd overall in 2:04:36. Of the 43 swimmers only 23 completed the race in tough conditions.

Next up for 22 year old Bryan is a test event at the World Championships site in Barcelona in June, before he travels to Kazan for the World University Games and then Barcelona again for the World Swimming Championships both in July.

Ireland’s Rob Heffernan produced another competitive performance on the international stage today at the 10th biennial European Cup of Race Walking in Slovakia.

Competing in the 20km event, Heffernan finished a very commendable 9th position in a very tough field in soaring temperatures in the famous Spa town of Dudince.

Heffernan kept pace throughout the race from the start, and only began to lose ground over the last 3km to the leading group, which included eventual winner Denis Strelkov of Russia who won in 1:21:41. Heffernan’s time was a solid 1:23:27.

The Cork man will have real grounds to be pleased with his performance considering the conditions in Dudince and the fact that he will be likely focusing on the longer 50km event later in the season, hopefully at the World Championships in Russia in August.

Heffernan’s 9th place finish today in this event is his best performance since his 4th place in 2009 in France over the 20km distance.

The bronze medal winning performance of Matej Toth of Slovakia was understandably a crowd-pleasing moment for the locals in Dudince.

Heffernan had two improving compatriots in the same event today, in the shape of 2012 Olympian Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) and Westport AC’s Cian McManamon.

Boyce and McManamon stuck to their task well, and considering temperatures were in the 30′s, will both be happy to have finished the event armed with increased fitness and experience. Boyce crossed in 35th place and McManamon in 47th.

Heffernan was not the only Irish walker to perform particularly well today in Slovakia.

In the Junior Men’s 10km event, Leevale’s Luke Hickey finished in 14th place in a top quality field of emerging talent, in a time of 44:49.

The winner, by the closest of margins, was the Russian Pavel Parshin in 41:14, from his compatriot Nikolay Markov, who were both given the same time but then separated by chip timing technology. Ireland’s other representative in this event was Evan Lynch (Leevale AC) who struggled in the conditions and failed to finish.

In the Men’s 50km event, Tara AC’s Michael Doyle equipped himself admirably in what was his first outing over the immensely challenging distance. Doyle finished in a noteworthy 21st position in a time of 4:08:03, behind the Double European Champion Yohann Diniz of France who collected another title in 3:41:08, in front of a number of challenging Russians, traditionally strong in this event.

Ireland’s sole female race walker competing today in Slovakia was London Olympian Laura Reynolds (Mohill AC), who had hopes of competing well in the women’s 20km race. In the event, Reynolds found the conditions too challenging this afternoon and, after a positive start, dropped out around the 10km mark. It wasn’t the season opener she would have wanted but there will be plenty more opportunities to progress over the season ahead.

Russia claimed a 123 in this women’s 20km event with the ever competitive Anisia Kirdiapkina taking the gold in 1:28:40.

Results – 10th European Cup Of Race Walking, Dudince, Slovakia, May 19th 2013

Senior Men 50km

1. Yohann Diniz (France) 3:41:08

2. Mikhail Ryzhov (Russia) 3:44:42

3. Ivan Noskov (Russia) 3:45:32

21. Micheal Doyle (Ireland / Tara AC) 4:08:03

Senior Men 20km

1. Denis Strelkov (Russia) 1:21:41

2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Spain) 1:21:49

3. Matej Toth (Slovakia) 1:21:52

9. Rob Heffernan (Ireland / Togher AC) 1:23:27

35. Brendan Boyce (Ireland / Letterkenny AC) 1:28:57

47. Cian McManamon (Ireland / Westport AC) 1:33:13

Junior Men 10km

1. Pavel Parshin (Russia) 41:14

2. Nikloay Markov (Russia) 41:14

3. Vito Minei (Italy) 41:27

14. Luke Hickey (Ireland / Leevale AC)

DNF. Evan Lynch (Ireland / Leevale AC)

Senior Women 20km

1. Anisia Kirdiapkina (Russia) 1:28:40

2. Vera Sokolova (Russia) 1:29:19

3. Marina Iumanova (Russia) 1:29:26

DNF: Laura Reynolds (Ireland / Mohill AC)

The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (NYOGOC) is well on track to deliver successful Games next summer, according to the IOC Coordination Commission, which concluded its fourth visit to the Chinese city today.
With 15 months to go to the second edition of the summer Youth Olympic Games, the Coordination Commission, chaired by Alexander Popov, congratulated NYOGOC on its continued dedication and commitment, and was particularly pleased to see the level of detailed preparation presented as the organisers look ahead to the operational readiness phase.
The IOC also welcomed NYOGOC’s proposals to use the upcoming Asian Youth Games as an occasion to test a number of functional areas and validate key milestones, including the Event Schedule and the Operation Plans – first versions of which have been completed on time.
Since the last visit of the Coordination Commission in September 2012, other important milestones have been met, including the submission and approval of the final Venue Master Plan, and the successful launch of both the official YOG mascot and a new improved website.
In addition, NYOGOC continues to actively discuss domestic sponsorship opportunities, and is engaged with a number of the TOP partners to prepare marketing activations in support of the Games.
Moving forward, the Coordination Commission encouraged NYOGOC to build on the steps it has already taken in working together across the different functional areas to ensure a joined-up approach to hosting the Games. This includes a committed effort to the final detailing and delivery of a successful Culture and Education Programme that will engage, educate and inspire the young athletes off the field of play.
The Coordination Commission also recommended that, as a top priority, Nanjing should now share with all stakeholders, including NOCs, IFs, public and media, that it will be ready to host memorable Games next year, and that a warm welcome awaits them in this beautiful Chinese city.
Speaking after the close of the three-day meeting, Alexander Popov said: “NYOGOC’s vision for the second Summer Youth Olympic Games is now really taking shape, and the Coordination Commission congratulates it on its progress. As we start climbing the hill toward the final countdown, the coming months will be crucial for YOG preparation, and will present NYOGOC with key opportunities to let the youth of the world know that the YOG spirit is coming to Nanjing and that all are welcome.”
For more information on the Youth Olympic Games, visit: www.olympic.org/yog

Team Ireland EYOF met recently to finalise their operational plans for the up-coming European Youth Olympics in Utrecht, July 13-20th, 2013.

Ireland will be represented in Athletics , Cycling, Gymnastics, and Swimming. For the first time female events have been added to the cycling programme.

OCI Sports Director Martin Burke recently attended the final  EYOF Seminar for National Olympic Committees and also met with officials from the revamped Sports Institute facility in nearby Papendal.

He has arranged for the Irish delegation to have their pre Games training camp at Papendal,  situated on the outskirts of the city of Arnhem.  It offers superb outdoor and indoor training facilities and has an onsite  sports hotel.

In addition to being the home base for Dutch NOC, Papendal also houses the Sports and Innovation Centre. This Centre consists of the Sports Medical Centre Papendal (SMCP); ISA (Institute for Sport Accommodations); as well as InnoSportNL (Innovation and Sport). Also located at Papendal are the Netherlands Paralympic Committee (NPC); the headquarters of the Royal Dutch Athletics Association. The National Sports Centre Papendal is also an official Centre for Elite Sports and Education (CEE).

The OCI have arranged for a team day at Athlone Institute of Technology in early July, for briefing sessions with athletes, parents, coaches, and support staff. The Team performance and village clothing will  be distributed here.

The Olympic Council of Ireland fully supports the Governments decision of the inaugurate of an annual National Famine Commemoration Day in memory of all those who died and emigrated during the Great Famine.  This years commemoration will take place in Kilrush, Co. Clare on Sunday 12th May in the presence of President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgings.

All public and sporting organisations are invited to observe a minute’s silence at events taking place on 12th May.

We invite you to observe a minute of silent reflection at all sporting and public events taking place on Sunday 12th May in memory of all those who suffered loss during the Famine – loss of life, loss of family, loss of home and loss of country.

Top Irish triathletes Aileen Reid and Bryan Keane are set to race the Yokohama leg of the World Triathlon Series this weekend.

In previous years the Yokohama course has been infamous for its hot and humid conditions however this weekend may suit the Irish competitors with temperatures set to be a pleasant 20 degrees. The course consists of a 2 lap 1500m swim with competitors exiting onto a pontoon after 750 meters before diving in for the remaining 750 meters. It’s then onto a 9 lap, 40km bike leg with a host of 90 and 180 degree turns making it a testing route which will sap the energy out of competitor’s legs. Finally the 23 women and 39 men will tackle the flat and fast 4 lap, 10km run.

Aileen Reid in the women’s race is off first and faces stiff competition from the USA’s fast running Gwen Jorgensen who is the bookies favourite to take victory. 2 time World Champion and Beijing Bronze medallist, Emma Moffatt has also been in good form of late as has Aileen’s training mate Jodie Stimpson of Great Britain. Aileen’s early season form hasn’t been so hot thanks to a knee injury see picked up some months back. With a number of weeks consistent run training now under her belt Aileen’s run times have been improving with her clocking a 35min 45sec 10km in the San Diego leg of the World Triathlon Series 3 weeks ago. A further improvement in run form will see her better her 14^th place finish here last year and challenge near the top of the field.

In the men’s race Bryan Keane will be thankful for the cooler water conditions which will likely result in a wetsuit swim, making his task of remaining in the lead pack out of the water that little bit easier. Bryan has been in scintillating form this season with a 4^th place finish in Mooloolaba followed up by Ireland’s first men’s World Cup Podium when he took 2^nd in Ishigaki. Fellow Irishman Conor Murphy who has also been climbing up the world rankings of late was due to be on the start line making it the first time Ireland had three representatives in the top league of racing. Unfortunately for Murphy he came down on a greasy corner in Ishigaki when he had a shot at a podium place and badly bruised his knee. He was forced to return home and give up his starting berth.

This weekend’s Yokohama race is set to feature most of the top names in men’s racing with Olympic bronze medallist Jonny Brownlee making his return to racing after an ankle injury. Last year’s winner Joao Silva is also in top form and goes into the race wearing number 1. Alongside him on the start pontoon is Spain’s Javier Gomez and the South African bike-run specialist Richard Murray.

Silva clocked 29mins 42seconds for 10km to win last year while the top 10 were all under 31min 30seconds pace so Keane will need a first pack swim, strong bike legs and a lightning fast run to claim the first World Series top 10 of his career.

The women’s race gets underway on the BBC Red button or triathlonlive.tv on Friday night at midnight with Aileen Reid wearing number 7 while the men’s race starts at 3am Saturday morning with Bryan Keane wearing number 27.

ENDS

Image attached FOC:

Bryan Keane claims silver at the Ishigaki World Cup in Japan.

Credit: Jun Sato / ITU Media

Irish Senior Men’s Coach Andrew Meredith has named a 20-man squad for the upcoming test matches vs Germany in Heilbronn & Mannheim on the 16th, 17th & 18th of May 2013 in preparation for FIH World League 3 in Rotterdam from 13th – 23rd June.

Meredith has had a busy month taking in each round of the Irish Hockey League including last weekend’s finals at Three Rock Rovers and his squad for this test series includes a number of players who excelled in that tournament alongside a large European Club based Irish contingent.

Speaking to hockey.ie Irish Coach Andrew Meredith said ‘” I think both the players group and the staff, are all extremely excited about everybody getting back together, and to begin the hard work towards reaching our goal of World Cup qualification. The camp that begins tomorrow marks the beginning of our World league 3 preparation program and the squad that has been selected will be the first opportunity to combine players who are playing in the final matches of their club competition, and those local based players which have performed in the recent IHL competition.

Unfortunately there are a number of players unavailable in the period of May due to both exams and work, which presents the opportunity to facilitate bringing some players from outside of the teams that were selected in Argentina, and India in the last 5 months, and give them the opportunity to present performances that will increase the possibility for selection. Obviously playing the Olympic champions and current number World number 1 presents its own challenges, but we will come away knowing where the group is at in regards to fitness and technical standards, and where exactly in the team process we sit, and how far we have to go, to enable us to get everything right and peak at the right time in Rotterdam”

• 1. Bell, Jonny (Lisnagarvey)
• 2. Bruton, Jonny (YMCA)
• 3. Buser, Daniel (Lisnagarvey)
• 4. Cargo, Chris (Reading – England)
• 5. Caruth, Peter (Braxgata – Belgium)
• 6. Cole, Stephen (Monkstown)
• 7. Cockram, Timmy (Lisnagarvey)
• 8. Dowds, Stephen (Banbridge)
• 9. Fitzgerald, David (Monkstown)
• 10. Gormley, Ronan (Krefeld – Germany)
• 11. Harte, Conor (SCHC – Holland)
• 12. Harte, David (Kampong – Holland)
• 13. Jackson, John (Braxgata – Belgium)
• 14. Lorimer, James (Lisnagarvey)
• 15. Magee, Eugene (Krefeld – Germany)
• 16. Maguire, Phelie (THC Hurley – Holland)
• 17. McConnell, Andy (THC Hurley – Holland)
• 18. O’Donoghue, Shane (UCD)
• 19. Sothern, Alan (Pembroke Wanderers)
• 20. Watt, Michael (SCHC – Holland)

Barry Murphy will lead an 18 strong team of swimmers at the Celtic Tri Nations Meet this weekend. The annual event pits top swimmers from Ireland, Scotland and Wales against each other with the 3 Nations all vying for the Celtic Tri Nations Championship Title. The event will be hosted by Scotland in 2013 running from the 10th – 12th May.

Dubliner Murphy, fresh from Irish Nationals at the end of April will be looking to meet the World Championships qualification time of 1:00.86 in the 100m Breaststroke at the event. Following impressive performances in Dublin just two weeks ago, where he swam a season’s best of 1:01.35, Murphy will have a last chance in Scotland to meet the time.

Aer Lingus swimmer Andrew Meegan who also showed impressive form at Irish Nationals, breaking the 1500m and 800m Irish Freestyle Records where he qualified for the World University Games in Kazan in July, will swim the same events in Scotland

The impressive team boasts Irish Record holders in Bethany Carson (100m Butterfly), Jane Roberts (50, 100m Back Junior) and Curtis Coulter (50m, 100m Free Junior).

John Keohane has been selected on to the Ireland team for the European Championships. The Lee Valley man was the fastest man home in the Irish trials on Saturday and will compete for Ireland in Seville in four weeks’ time.

Sanita Puspure is selected in the women’s single scull; Claire Lambe in the lightweight single and Niall Kenny and Justin Ryan in a lightweight double. They will depart on Wednesday for a training camp in Copenhagen.

Paul O’Donovan, an under-23 lightweight, was only 0.09 seconds behind Keohane in the time trial on Saturday. He recorded 94.8 per cent of projected world best time for the lightweight single, though there was a strong tailwind. Fionnan McQuillan-Tolan and Seán O’Connor were the fastest pair.

Ireland performance director Morten Espersen said he will have “a very strong team” for the World Under-23 Championships in July.

The European Race Walking Cup will take place on May 19th in Dudince, Slovakia. Athletics Ireland are sending a team of seven walkers to the event.

Robert Heffernan (Togher AC ),who placed fourth in the 2012 Olympics, will be looking to better his season’s best time of 1:21:59 which he set down earlier this year in the 20km walk in Lugano, Switzerland.

Cian McManamon (Westport AC), recorded 1:27:35 at the same event and will be hoping to get closer to the Athletics Ireland World Championships A qualifying standard of 1:22:30.

Olympian Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) achieved the B standard for the World Championships earlier in April, which sets him up nicely to deliver a good performance in the European Cup.

Micheal Doyle (Tara AC) will be the only Irish competitor in the Senior men’s 50km walk. Evan Lynch and Luke Hickey (Leevale AC) will both be taking part in the Junior men’s 10km race. Hickey recently achieved a time of 43:52 for the 10km walk – a huge improvement on his previous best of 46:31.

This time was also well inside the standard of 44:30 for the European Junior championships which take place in Italy in July.

Olympian Laura Reynolds, (Mohill AC), will be the only woman competing on the team. Reynolds will be racing in the Senior women’s 20km walk.

2013 European Race Walking Cup Team

ENDS

No reproduction fee for photos

Ireland’s Olympic Medallists from the London 2012 Games were presented with their International Olympic Committee (IOC) lapel pins at a special ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House today (May 7^th).

Gold medal winner Katie Taylor led the recipients and received her Olympic Lapel pin from IOC Executive Board member Pat Hickey in the presence of guest of honour, London 2012 Games Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe.

Every Olympic Medallist receives an additional award apart from an Olympic Medal. It is a very special lapel pin in the appropriate gold, silver, and bronze versions.

Each pin is unique to the medallist and has its own exclusive serial number, one which is registered at the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters in Switzerland.

Today’s recipients were: Katie Taylor (gold pin), John Joe Nevin (silver pin), Paddy Barnes (bronze pin), Michael Conlon, Cian  O’Connor (bronze pin)

The ceremony was attended by many personalities including the Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise O’Muiri, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring T.D., and the British Ambassador Dominick Chilcott.

Speaking this afternoon, Minister Michael Ring TD said: “Every Olympic Games throws up moments of high drama and the London 2012 Olympic Games did not disappoint with many highlights that will live forever in the memory.  We are all very proud of our Olympic medallists.  Each of you contributed your part to another great chapter in the history of Irish Olympic sporting successes.  I am delighted that your achievements are being honoured today.”

Following the ceremony, Lord Coe travelled to the headquarters of the Olympic Council of Ireland in Howth where he unveiled a sculpture, created by Donegal Artist Paul Ferriter, to commemorate the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Dublin almost a year ago.

Lord Coe, in his current role as chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), also signed a co-operation agreement between the BOA and the Olympic Council of Ireland and made presentations to Irish Olympic Gold Medal legends Ronnie Delany and Michael Carruth.

From left, Pat Hickey, President, Olympic Council of Ireland, Lord Coe, Chairman, British Olympic Association, Michael Conlon, Katie Taylor, Cian O’Connor, Paddy Barnes, Michael Ring T.D, Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism and Sport, and Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise Ó Muirí

from left, British Ambassador to Ireland Dominic Chilcott, Pat Hickey, President, Olympic Council of Ireland, Michael Ring, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism and Sport, Lord Coe, Chairman, British Olympic Association and Cllr. Cian O’Callaghan, Lord Mayor of Fingal

The PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) today launched its official Olympic emblem in front of over 1,000 guests at a gala ceremony held simultaneously in PyeongChang and in Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. The new emblem draws on Hangul – the Korean alphabet – and Korea’s traditional humanism – Cheon-ji-in.

The ceremony was attended by Gunilla Lindberg, Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s  Coordination Commission for PyeongChang 2018; Jin-sun Kim, the President of POCOG; Jinryong Yoo, the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Moon-soon Choi, Governor of Gangwon Province; Jung-haeng Kim, President of the Korean Olympic Committee; and Sang-hwa Lee, Olympic gold medallist in speed skating. A congratulatory message was also delivered on behalf of Geun-hye Park, the President of the Republic of Korea.

Where the earth meets the sky

The emblem’s design has its roots in Hangul, with the shapes that form the logo stemming from the first consonants of each syllable in the word “PyeongChang” when it is written in Hangul. The first character in the emblem  also represents a gathering place where the three elements of Cheon-ji-in – heaven, earth, and human – are in harmony. The second character symbolises snow and ice, as well as the athletes’ stellar performances. PyeongChang 2018’s new emblem symbolises a grand gathering of people from all around the world in celebration of Olympic winter sports, which is taking place in the harmonious land of PyeongChang – “A square where the earth meets the sky, and where athletes excel in snow or on ice – that’s where everyone will celebrate the world’s biggest winter festival in 2018.”

Discovering Culture and Traditions

Commenting on the emblem, IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “I would like to congratulate the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee on the launch of its innovative new emblem. As an athlete, part of the excitement of participating in the Games is discovering the culture and traditions of the host country, and for the PyeongChang Games, that discovery begins today with this new identity. Combining elements of the Korean alphabet and oriental philosophy, this new brand will allow people to immediately connect with Korea and the 2018 Games vision of New Horizons. I wish PyeongChang 2018 a great deal of success in sharing this new emblem with the world.”

Celebrate in Harmony

Commission Chair Lindberg said after the ceremony, “In just under five years’ time, PyeongChang 2018 will welcome athletes and spectators from around the world to celebrate in harmony at the XXIII Olympic Winter Games. This new emblem truly reflects those values and PyeongChang and Korea’s commitment to staging truly outstanding Games that will create new horizons for winter sport and the Olympic Movement in Korea and across Asia. I would therefore like to congratulate the PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee for its work and commitm

ent to turning its brand vision into a reality.”

Traditional Korean Colours

The emblem uses five traditional Korean colours – black, blue/green, yellow, red, and white – which is the same colour scheme as that found in the Olympic flag. Traditionally, blue and green were represented by a single word in Hangul but this has now changed, with separate words now existing for each. The five cardinal colours are found in many a

spects of daily life and tradition in Korea, including in clothing, celebrations, martial arts, architecture, art and food.

Gain Momentum

President Kim of POCOG commented, “Our Games preparations will certainly gain momentum in light of today’s launch of the emblem. I wish that all of us at POCOG and residents of Gangwon Province as well as Koreans involved in sports, culture and busine

ss take the ownership of delivering one of the most successful Games in Olympic history, with the same passion and spirit that we demonstrated throughout our bid efforts.”

Across All Communications

The development process of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic emblem was masterminded by Jong-joo Ha, who is known for his branding expertise that spans a wide range of projects, such as the corpo

rate identity designs of major global corporation

s. This new emblem will now be used by PyeongChang 2018 across all its communications until the end of the Games.

Source: http://www.olympic.org/news/pyeongchang-2018-launches-official-emblem/196086

Morten Espersen Irish Rowing High Performance Director will attend this weekend’s Irish trials at the National Rowing Centre.

Esperson’s is keen to widen the base of the sport and building international crews with an eye to Rio 2016.

More than 120 junior athletes will trial this weekend with hopes of places from World Junior Championships down to Home Internationals.

Espersen is calling the senior tests an Open Camp and wants athletes who have not been in the assessment process to come along and trial today and he has also cast the net wider.

He is asking rowers based abroad who have Irish citizenship to contact him.

Espersen and new head coach Don McLachlan began to form women’s crews in a camp at the NRC last weekend.

In the last few days Espersen travelled to the Bann club in Coleraine, source of three medallists in London for the British system, and Enniskillen.

A total of eight Irish riders will compete at the world famous Badminton Horse Trials in England, which get underway this morning (Friday).

In addition, some 27 of the 85 starters are Irish bred horses, representing countries such as the UK, the USA and New Zealand.

The UK Olympic medallist Zara Phillips, grand-daughter of Queen Elizabeth, will ride the Irish Sport Horse High Kingdom at the Gloucestershire venue.

Badminton is the largest outdoor sporting event in the UK with over 250,000 people expected to attend.

The eight Irish riders competing include Aoife Clark, who finished seventh at the Olympic Games in London, and Joseph Murphy, who came 14th.

Another member of Ireland’s Olympic Team, Michael Ryan, will be the first Irish rider into the ring on Friday, while rising stars Sam Watson and Elizabeth Power have already performed well at Badminton in previous years. The Irish line up is completed by first timers Sarah Ennis, Peter Hannigan and Jim Newsam.

Friday and Saturday will see the dressage phases of the competition with Sunday featuring the hugely popular cross country phase. The event will conclude on Monday with the deciding show jumping element.

Ireland’s No 1 Scott Evans has a tough assignment against top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in  the quarter-finals of the Danish Open

Evans, who is seeded fifth for the tournament, beat two other Danish players to make the last eight. He dropped the opening set of his first round match against against Emil Holst of Denmark, but then took the next two sets for victory. Against qualifier Joshua Eipe, in the second round, he cruised to a straight sets victory

Mens Singles:

Round 32: Scott Evans (IRE) (5) bt Emil Holst (DEN) 2-1 (16-21, 21-13, 21-19)

Round 16: Scott Evans (IRE) (5) bt Joshua Eipe (DEN) 2-0 (21-13, 21-16).

Quarter Final: Scott Evans (IRE) (5) Vs Viktor Axelsen (DEN) (1)

Irish National Ice Skating Champion Clara Peters visited the Olympic Council offices today.

Clara began skating internationally for Ireland in the 2008/9 season and has represented Ireland at European and World Championships since 2008.

She has steadily improved her World Championship ranking from 54th in 2008/9 to 29^th in 2012/13.

Clara, born 1991 in Essen, Germany, because her parents were working there at the time, moved to Ireland when she was 18 months old and raised in Dublin.

She began skating in Dublin from the age of seven, travelling to the Ice Bowl in Belfast to access ice time. In January of 2006 Clara moved to Florida to be coached by Kerry Leitch and then on to her current training base in Delaware USA. Ron Ludington, a former Olympic medallist, and who has coached many top US skaters, oversees her programme.

Karen Ludington is her head coach and travels with Clara to major competitions. Jeff Di Gregario works on her rotations and jump techniques and her conditioning programme is overseen by Geoff Schneider in Delaware University.

Clara said “a typical day will start at 8-8.40am on ice-warm up and going through my long programme. 9.30- 10.10am I have a technical session focusing on jumps and rotations, and between 11-11.40am I have a skating skills class. Then it’s off to the gym for a 1 hour conditioning session which can include plyometrics, cardio, yoga and/or palate. From 2.30pm I study for my sports science degree course.”

Peters said her focus in 2013/14 “is to work on my programme for the next two international competitions in the lead in to the September 2013 World Championships in Germany, an Olympic qualifier. This season I will focus on improving my overall consistency and ultimately my overall score in major competitions with a view to representing my country in Sochi 2014”.

30 skaters will take part in Sochi and we wish Clara every success in her quest to qualify. You can follow her progress on Twitter @clarajosie119

Peters is supported by an Olympic Council of Ireland Sochi scholarship and pictured with Martin Burke OCI Sports Director below.

Baku; 30 April 2013: The First Lady of Azerbaijan and Chair of Baku 2015, Mehriban Aliyeva, today announced that the Opening Ceremony of the inaugural European Games will be held on Friday 12 June 2015, and the Closing Ceremony on Sunday 28 June 2015.

The announcement came at a press conference to mark the end of the EOC Coordination Commission’s first visit to Baku, where the 17 European Federations that have signed with Baku 2015 were also announced by the EOC President, Patrick Hickey, and the Coordination Commission Chairman, Spyros Capralos.

The initially selected sports for the Baku 2015 European Games are:

Archery
Aquatics
Badminton
Basketball
Canoe & Kayak
Cycling
Fencing
Football
Gymnastics
Judo
Karate
Shooting
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Triathlon
Volleyball
Wrestling

The Opening and Closing Ceremony dates were drawn up with the full approval of the European Federations of the sports mentioned above.

Commenting on these milestone announcements, President Patrick Hickey said:

“We have been overwhelmed with the demand for places by European Federations for the European Games in 2015.

“However, we have a clear long-term strategic vision for the European Games in terms of size and affordability and we have been very careful about the sports we have chosen.

“This has resulted in a very attractive Sports Programme for 2015 and a large number of sports are on the waiting list for the next European Games in 2019.

“We are still in discussions with the athletics and boxing federations which we hope to finalise in the coming weeks.”

Details on the disciplines available in various sports and information about athlete numbers will be finalised in the coming months, following further consultation with European Federations.

Chairman of the Coordination Commission, Spyros Capralos said:

“We have had two days of very productive meetings with the Local Organising Committee and are satisfied with the progress they have made since being awarded the Games in December 2012.

“The sport facilities are world class and the Athletes Village is one of the best we have ever seen. These Games will be centred on the athletes and will create a new generation of stars for Europe.

“However there is much work to be done, there are only two years left and the Coordination Commission will be closely monitoring the progress of Baku 2015 in the months ahead.”

Ireland will meet France over two legs at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork and the National Stadium in Dublin on May 3rd and 5th next.

The Ireland (male) London 2012 squad of John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Darren O’Neill and Adam Nolan and current European champion Joe Ward have been called up to the Irish squad

First Coordination Commission meeting in Baku Azerbaijan for the inaugural European Games 2015.    The delegation included 16 coordination commission members led by Spryos Capralios (Greece) accompanied by European Olympic Committees President – Pat Hickey.  During their visit the they met with the President of the Republic Mr Ilham Alyev who is also President of the Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.

The Polish Olympic Committee have advised the Olympic Council of Ireland that they will give the Fair Play Award to the Irish football fans for their excellent support at the Euro 2012 Tournament held in Poland.

http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/103220-polish-olympic-committee-awards-irish-fans.html

The Irish team finished in fifth place in the 2013 edition of the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, USA on Saturday, 27th of April. Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC), Brian Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Mark English (UCD AC) and Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) combined to record a time of 9:24.10 for the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) event. The Irish quartet was up against teams from Kenya, Ethiopia, USA, Canada, UK, Morocco and Australia.

Robinson was on the opening 1200m leg for Ireland and he showed tremendous form to hold fourth position throughout the three laps. Robinson moved up to third position at the changeover as 400m specialist Brian Gregan took over. Gregan maintained his position and managed to avoid the bumping and barging which resulted in the British athlete Martin Rooney tumble to the track. Gregan continued to power down the finishing straight and handed over to Mark English in fourth place.

USA red team, Kenya, Ethiopia, USA blue team and the Irish team were all battling it out for the top positions at this stage. English showed excellent form to hold the Irish team’s position as he ran against athletes of the caliber of Mohammed Aman (Eth), the 2012 World Indoor 800m Gold medallist on the 800m leg. English handed over the baton in fifth place to Ciaran O’Lionaird who ran the anchor 1 mile leg.

O’Lionaird began the leg in fifth position chasing the USA blue team who were been anchored by legendary middle-distance runner Bernard Lagat. On the third lap O’Lionaird passed Lagat to move Ireland into fourth position. However Lagat responded and moved the USA blue team back into fourth over the final circuit. O’Lionaird stuck to his task and crossed the line in fifth place in a time of 9:24.10, to cap off a fine performance by all four Irish athletes. The event was won by the Ethiopian team in a time of 9:16.34.

The very best in Irish figure skating talent was displayed at the Dundonald International Ice Bowl in Belfast on Sunday (28 April) for the Irish National Figure Skating Championships 2013.

It was an early start for skaters, judges and coaches as the Championships were held between 6am – 8am.

Senior, Junior and Novice level skaters competed in seven different events during the course of the day. Headlining the event was Clara Peters, three-time Senior National champion who  regained her title.

This was be the final domestic competition for Peters before she vies for a place at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia at the final qualifying competition to be held in Germany in September.

Awards were presented by  CEO of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Dr. Stephen Martin.

Sycerika McMahon who confirmed that she will be heading to Texas next year on a scholarship, kicked off the final day of action at the Carlton Irish National Swimming Championships putting a sixth national title to her name.  McMahon (2:15.60) finished behind Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (2:11.84) in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley but picked up the title of National Champion to add to the 400m Individual Medley, 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle and 200m Butterfly she had already won over the weekend.

Tallaght and NAC Performance Centre swimmer Brendan Hyland added a fourth Irish title to his collection, he finished 2^nd in the 200m Individual Medley in a new Irish Junior Record time of 2:05.77 and then went on to set a New Irish Junior and Senior Record in the 100m Butterfly Final to win Gold.  Hyland’s time of 54.50 knocked .17 off Steven McQuillan’s 2009 Senior Record.

Fiona Doyle added the 200m Breaststroke title to the 100m she won yesterday where she set a new Irish Senior Record and went under the qualification time for the World Championships in July.  Doyle’s time of 2:31.34 was well ahead of Scotland’s Emily Jones (2:38.09) who touched for Silver.

The Men’s 50m Backstroke final was the race of the night with Bangor’s Jordan Sloan (27.47) just getting to the wall .01 of a second ahead of David Prendergast of Kilkenny (27.48). Jane Roberts retained her Irish title in the women’s event claiming Gold in 30.50.

Shauna O’Brien (1:01.66) of UCD added the 100m Butterfly title the 50m Butterfly she won yesterday. O’Brien was the first Irish swimmer home but it was Katinka Hosszu who touched first once again in 59.19.

Curtis Coulter rounded off the night and these championships with a new Irish Junior Record and win in the men’s 50m Freestyle. The Ards SC swimmer knocked .32 off the previous record held by Conor Leaney.

Tony Byrne, who boxed out of the Tredagh BC in Drogheda,  won lightweight bronze at the 1956 Olympics in  Melbourne after losing out to Harry Kurschat of United Germany on a split decision in the semi-finals.

A few months after that defeat, Byrne beat Great Britain’s Dick McTaggart, who beat Kurschat in the Olympic final, in an England v Ireland international at the Royal Albert Hall.

Ronnie Delaney claimed gold at the 1956 Olympics, while Byrne’s team-mates on the Irish boxing team, Fred Tiedt, John Caldwell and

Fred Gilroy, won silver and two bronze medals.

Byrne originally from Drogheda emigrated to Canada in the 1960s.

The Olympic Council of Ireland extend deepest sympathy to the Byrne family and friends.

RIP

John Somers Payne a double Olympian of Cork Harbour sailing, died yesterday, aged 87.

Payne, a member of a well-known Munster sailing family, represented Ireland in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and four years later in Rome, competing in the Finn single-handed dinghy.

Somers was an inspiration to us all at RCYC because he was one of the first from Crosshaven to sail in the Olympic Games.

Payne’s national and international achievements also led him into Admiral’s Cup campaigns but he loved the National 18 class, a dinghy he sailed into his 70s.

In the run up to the Melbourne Olympics, in 1955 Payne walked from Heuston Station (then Kingsbridge) in Dublin city to Malahide for the trials, some 20km, after missing his bus.

He won the trial but the Irish Yachting Association required him to also attend a Finn event in the Netherlands (at his own expense) before nominating him to the Olympic Council for the 1956 Melbourne Games.

Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Somers Payne.

RIP

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pa/somers-payne-1.html

Ref: photo: Royal Cork Yacht Club

The Penn Relays will play host to the 14th edition of USA vs. The World relays on Saturday, April 27th. There is a high quality Irish team set to compete in the Penn Relays in the exciting men’s Distance Medley Relay (DMR) event.

The Irish DMR team consists of Olympian Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) who will be running the Mile leg. The US-based athlete has shown great form throughout the 2013 indoor season after bringing home the bronze medal in the 3000m at the European Indoor Championships.

Paul Robinson (St. Cocas), fresh from comfortably winning the SPAR Great Ireland Mile on April 14th and just recently returned from a spell of training in Australia, will be running the 1200m leg as part of the DMR team.

World Junior Finalist, World Youth Olympian and Irish Junior Record holder Mark English (UCD AC) will be running the 800m leg and has shown he is coming into superb form after cruising to victory in the Irish Intervarsity Championships 400m in a personal best time of 47.56 seconds.

Clonliffe AC’s Brian Gregan who placed sixth at the European Athletics Championships in Helsinki last summer will be taking the 400m leg. Gregan showed early dominance during the indoor season and held the fastest 2013 indoor 400m time in Europe for a number of weeks.

The Irish team will be up against some of the best athletes in the world racing teams from Canada, the UK, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and two teams from the USA. Team USA swept the 2012 USA vs. The World relays for the first time in history last year and will be aiming to defend their dominance against the stellar international field.  The Irish DMR teams collectively have numerous Irish records to their names and are sure to put up a good fight against their international rivals.

Twenty coaches from Ireland and Great Britain attended the 10th D course for Regional Coaches hosted by the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association in Dublin, Ireland.

Olympic Council of Ireland Executive Committee member Mr. Kevin Kilty conducted the course at the request of the International Shooting Sport Federation where he holds the distinction of being the head tutor for the ISSF Training Academy and chairman of the ISSF Coaches Committee.

The course was supported by the Olympic Council of Ireland who arranged the delivery of the sports medicine and physical training modules of the course by Dr. Paula Fitzpatrick of Dublin City University.

A key goal of the course was to give coaches a structured methodology in how to develop coaching sessions and the importance of planning and organization in the provision of performance coaching.

“We are very grateful to the Olympic Council of Ireland and the ISSF in supporting us in delivering this course. The work of Mr. Kilty was very well received and we hope that this is just the start of a series of coaching initiatives that we will undertake this year.” said General Secretary of the ICPSA Mr. John McCormack.

ISSF Head Tutor Mr. Kevin Kilty supervising students course work

Dr. Paula Fitzpatrick conducting the Sports Science modules of the course

Sonia O’ Sullivan raises the Active flag at the Burrow School.

On Monday 15th of April the Burrow School Community took great delight in having Sonia O’ Sullivan raise their Active School Flag. Ms Eileen Geaney, the School Principal, along with the staff, were delighted that Sonia O’Sullivan, Pat Hickey (President of the Olympic Council of Ireland), Cian O’Callaghan (Lord Mayor of Fingal)and Rev Kevin Brew (The School Chairman)accepted the invitation to attend the Ceremony.  The event marked the school’s achievements in promoting physical activity and sport in the school. The day gave pupils a chance to showcase some of their work and talents to representatives of local clubs who have helped them to promote physical activity in the last couple of years, to the sports development officers in Fingal Local Sports Partnership and some parents. The students had the opportunity to ask Sonia O’ Sullivan some very important questions about how they could become as fast as her and how much training she had to do before the big races and what part diet played in her routine.

Sports co-ordinator and teacher in the school, Ciara Blennerhassett said “We’re delighted to have had the chance to meet Sonia O’ Sullivan and to have had the opportunity to show her some of our work in the area of physical activity over the last year. The children were so excited to meet one of their sporting heroes. I would like to thank all of the parents and local clubs who have supported us through the Active Flag process and I would like to especially thank all the sports development officers in Fingal Local Sports Partnership for all their assistance over the last few years. We’re extremely proud to have our active flag flying outside the school.”

The Burrow School is delighted to have had shared this great celebration and it is a great way to kick off their 2013 active week. The pupils are looking forward to a wide range of activities such as Athletics, Dance, Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Soccer, Cricket, Softball and G.A.A to name but a few. Ms. Geaney is particularly proud of the co-operation and flexibility shown by the school staff to facilitate these activities and their collective hard work in the sporting activities of the school. The Burrow school is committed to the promotion of physical activity in their school and look forward to working with many different clubs and sporting organisation in the future.