Team Ireland’s Natalia Fasciszewska will come home from the European U23 Championship with silver following a thrilling final against Paris Olympics silver medalist, Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.
The 20 year old’s boxes out of Castlebar BC, Mayo and her journey to the finals included wins over Azerbaijan’s Aynur Mikayilova, Gabriella Weerheimand of the Netherlands and Georgia’s Khuraman Kausumov. This is Natalia’s first-time representing Ireland at this level.
5 of her team mates are being bestowed with their bronze medals today: 48kg Tiffany Spencer (Jobstown BC, Dublin), 60kg Rebecca Kavanagh (Mulhuddart BC, Dublin), 65kg Ava Henry (Dublin Docklands), 80+kg Cliona D’Arcy (Tobar Pheadair BC in Galway) and 50kg Louis Rooney (Star BC, Belfast), while half of the 16 strong team lost to the eventual champions.
8 members of the team lost to the eventual champion and they are: 48kg Tiffany Spencer, 54kg Robyn Kelly, 57kg Natalia Fasciszewska, 60kg Rebecca Kavanagh, 65kg Ava Henry, 50kg Louis Rooney, 60kg Gavin Ryan and 65kg Roy Colgan
High Performance Director, Jon Mackey, who led the team in Budapest said “An excellent series of performances from Natalia throughout the competition, all the more notable as this is her first outing at this level. She, her family and all at Castlebar BC can rightfully be proud. This is a very young team with most boxers aged 19 or 20 and contesting their first Elite benchmark championship so coming home with 6 medals is a good result. We’ve gleaned a lot of learnings here in Budapest, and we’re keen to put them in taction in the High Performance Unit to capitalize on the clear potential shown by every single member of this 16 boxer team.”
Jon adds “The coaching team for this championship of Head Coach James Doyle, Lynne McEnery and Jay Delaney along with HP Pool Coaches Ross Hickey (Grangecon BC, Wicklow/Defence Forces) and Paul Simpson (Saviours Crystal, Waterford), has been superb. Their work ethic and ability to strategise, adapt and provide ongoing mentorship to all boxers is remarkable. I’d also like to take a moment to recognize the invaluable contribution to this team’s success made by the boxer’s club coaches.”
In all, 271 boxers from 32 federations contested this tournament, the inaugural World Boxing confederation championships for the U23 age group.
Congratulations to Garry McGillion of Bishop Kelly BC who, after refereeing two semi-finals yesterday, took charge of the Men’s 65kg and Men’s 75kg finals today, between Ukraine and Bulgaria.
The team will land at Dublin Airport from Budapest at 8:20hrs on Sunday morning.
Team Ireland
48kg Tiffany Spencer, Jobstown BC, Dublin
51kg Rachel Lawless, St. Brigid’s BC, Offaly
54kg Robyn Kelly, Ballynacargy Boxing Club, Westmeath
57kg Natalia Fascizewska, Castlebar BC, Mayo
60kg Rebecca Kavanagh, Mulhuddart BC, Dublin
65kg Ava Henry, Dublin Docklands BC
80+kg Cliona D’Arcy, Tobar Pheadair BC, Galway
50kg Louis Rooney, Star ABC, Belfast
55kg Pasty Joyce, Olympic BC, Westmeath
60kg Gavin Ryan, Ratoath BC, Meath
65kg Roy Colgan, Avona BC, Dublin
70kg Ryan Jenkins, Jobstown BC, Dublin
75kg Tadgh O’Donnell, Jobstown BC, Dublin
80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC
85kg Sean Mackay Trant, Monkstown BC, Dublin
90kg Garyn McAllister, North Down BC, Down
Support Staff
Team Manager: High Peformance Director, Jon Mackey
Coaches: James Doyle, Lynne McEnery, Jay Delaney, Ross Hickey (Grangecon BC, Wicklow/Defence Forces) and Paul Simpson (Saviours Crystal, Waterford)
Physio: Paddy O’Donnell and Rian Furley
Athlete Support: Aidan Walsh
R&J: Garry McGillion (Bishop Kelly BC, Tyrone)