Three IABA R&Js have completed IBA international certification in courses which ran alongside the Italian National Championships in Chianciano, from December 8th to 15th.
Chris McCrory, a standing 1 Star R&J, has completed training and testing to achieve the 2 Star IBA rank. Christ may now officiate at Elite National Competitions, IBA affiliated Continental Competitions, except Elite Continental Championships.
While Karl McLoughlin and Gary McGillion completed IBA 1 Star training, testing and certification. To be eligible for a 1-Star R&J course and examination, a National level R&J must have officiated in at least fifty (50) contests as a Judge and thirty (30) contests as a Referee in a National event. Additionally, the R&J must have officiated in at least one National Elite Championship. Karl and Gary may now officiate at -Elite National Competitions, Dual Matches and 1-Star Competitions
National Registrar, Philip Rooney, says “I’d like to extend my congratulations to all three R&Js. Star certification is a huge achievement and I am proud as punch of Karl, Gary and Chris”.
World Junior Champion, Siofra Lawless, has been nominated for the HerSport Personality of the Year award.
On December 4th, 63kg Siofra of Four Kings BC in Kilcoole County Wicklow, contested her final against India’s Sachin Shurshti Sathe on the second day of finals. Siofra displayed excellent punch-picking, and ringcraft, and was dominate throughout, winning all rounds. Judges from Serbia, Zimbabwe, Kyrgyzstan, Spain and Uzbekistan scored the bout, which included a last round standing count: 26:30, 26:30, 27:30, 26:30, 27:30. Siofra was named Best Female Boxer of the World Junior Championships.
Siofra is nominated for the award alongside 9 other women, including highly decorated 100 metre hurdler, Sarah Lavin, Olympian – sailor Annalise Murphy, Mary Hickey-Nolan, Olympian and hockey player Nicci Daly, MMA champion, Shauna Bannon, Ruesha Little-John, Fionnuala McCormack, Amelia McFarland and Hannah Tyrell
You can vote for Siofra here. Winners will be announced on the night of the 27th January 2024
Entries are now open for the 2024 National U18 Championship. Entries are open for a period of 22 days and will close at 5pm on January 5th.
Extra weights have been added, for male and female athletes. These are 44kg and 46kg. Please note that, as these weights have been added after the opening of entries, and after entries have been received in numerous weights, the new weights will appear at the end of the weights list, after the superheavy weight in the male and female categories.
Please find attached the Competition Circular, Waiver/Member Acknowledgement Form and the 2024 National Youth Championships Code of Conduct. These two documents must be signed by the boxer and their parent/guardian and presented at the boxer’s first weigh-in. This is a condition of entry.
Competition Arrangements:
The 2024 National U18s Championship may be considered as an element in any potential selection process utilised in anticipation of contesting the EUBC Youth Championships, April 2nd to April 15th.
Dates: January 11th,12th,13th,14th and 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st.
Entries: A non–refundable, non-transferrable entry fee of €20 applies, including in the event of a boxer withdrawal. Online entry, via the Blocworx portal, is open until 5pm sharp, on Friday, January 5th. Entries will not be accepted without the payment of entry fees. All fees must be paid by 5pm on January 5th. Only boxers for whom entries have been completed and entry fees have been received will be allowed box. No late entries will be accepted.
Entry Form: Affiliated clubs wishing to enter boxers into the championships must log-in to their Blocworx portal, using their unique username and password. Clubs who have not retained their username or password following the completion of their affiliation for the 2023/2024 season can contact IABA staff, Sally Ann Kinch sally@iaba.ie, James Geraghty, James@iaba.ie or Ciara Plunkett, ciara@iaba.ie
Draws: Tuesday, 9th January, 1pm in the National Stadium. Only boxers entered through the Blocworx portal for whom fees are fully paid will be included in the draw.
Weigh-in and Medical:
Boxers will weigh in each day they box. Individual weigh-in times may be given to participants, but this will be decided and made known prior to the event. A medical examination will be performed on each boxer on their first day of competition. Boxing Record books to be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in.
Anti-Doping may be carried out at any stage of the championships and all boxers must advise the doctor of any medication they are taking or have taken in the preceding 4 weeks. It is imperative that all boxers adhere to the Anti-Doping Rules and Regulations. For any queries regarding this matter, boxers/coaches should contact Mr Larry Morrison, IBA Anti-Doping Officer on 086-0292476.
Non Pregnancy Declaration forms must be signed.
Attire: Boxers shall have one red and one blue vest. In accordance the IBA Technical and Competition Rule 48.7, boxers may wear form-fitting arm and/or leg coverings. Hair must be tied back and swimming hats or hairnets should be worn under the headgear for boxers with long hair. No red, orange or pink gum shields are allowed A Boxer can have a beard and moustache, but either must not cover the neck and must not be longer that 10cms, in accordance with the IBA Technical and Competition Rule 4.2.5.2.2
Coaches: They must wear track suitsandrunners at all sessions and endeavour to set a high standard of hygiene in the corners. No shorts, caps or hats are allowed.
Sportsmanship: All decisions must be accepted in a sporting manner. Any complaints must be addressed to the Chief Official, Mr. Philip Rooney. Please show respect to all Ringside Officials. A document stipulating requirements in relation to conduct, and the use of social media must be signed by all boxers and coaches at their initial weigh-in. Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be reported to the Disciplinary Officer
Please note:
The U18s Championship will be run under IBA Technical & Competition rules, as adopted on September 1st, 2022.
Referees & Judges for the U18s Championships will not be allowed enter the field of play as a coach with their club boxer.
All Referee & Judges must bring their record books.
Following the unanimous decision by clubs at IABA’s AGM on November 18th to increase the number of independent Directors on the Board of Directors from 2 (two) to 4 (four) to appoint gender representative Board, nominations are now open for the appointment of a female Member Director.
This appointment will be the third Member Director on the IABA’s Board, following on from the election of Fiona Hennigan and Darren O’Neil in December 2022. The current membership of IABA’s Board of Directors is:
Chair (Independent): Niall O’Carroll
President’s representative: Neil Gough
Ulster Provincial Council representative: Charlie Toland
Connacht Provincial Council representative: Tom Geraghty
Munster Provincial Council representative: Ted Barry, President
Leinster Provincial Council representative: Art O’Brien
Directly Elected Member: Fiona Hennigan
Directly Elected Member: Darren O’Neill
The IABA now seeks to appoint a new female board member, to ensure we have the capacity and skills to oversee the next phase of our work; to include an individual who possesses one or more of the following skills and competencies:
Experience of Finance at a senior level
Corporate Governance
Human Resources
Public Relations
Former Irish Champion Boxer with extensive major international competition/experience.
This role is an unpaid voluntary position. Board members are expected to attend between 6 and 8 board meetings per year, and to participate in the life of the organisation between board meetings. Board meetings are generally on weekday evenings in the National Stadium, or by Zoom, or in other locations as the Board elects. Positions are advertised for a period of 2 years (term may be renewed).
Please email completed nomination forms to the Nominations Committee nominations@iaba.ie by 5pm on Sunday, December 31st, 2023.
The Defence Forces Boxing Team participated in a European Military CISM Event, hosted in Rotterdam between the 12-15 Dec, the Team consisted of 8 Boxers and 6 Coaches, after 3 days of competitive action the Defence Forces Team won the overall Team Event and had 4 individual winners.
Special Mention to Sgt John Molloy (Head Coach), who has lead the Defence Forces Team to victories in the last 3 Multi Nations events held in Europe, while winning the last 2 Celtic Box Cup Team events and medaling at the previous 2 world military games.
Full Squad Commandant John Moody (Team Manager). Sgt John Molloy (Head Coach). Sgt Andy Brennan (Coach). Pte Ross Hickey (Coach). Sgmn Graham Hogan (Coach). Pte Rachel Lawless – 57kg Pte Charlie Horgan – 60kg Tpr Tiffany O’ Reilly – 70kg Cpl Jamie Long – 67kg Pte Ben McHugh – 71kg Pte Adam Kelly – 75kg Gnr Shane Cunningham – 86kg Tpr Brian Kennedy – 92kg. Referee/Judge – Sgt Stephen Kelly.
