Team Ireland begins its 2023 European U22 Championship campaign today – two boxers are in the ring in Budva, Montenegro.

57kg Donagh Keary of Rathfriland BC meets Spain’s Juan Moreno Pantoja in Ring A’s 3rd bout. Ring B, 63.5kg James “Shamie” McDonagh of  St Paul’s Waterford contests against Turkey’s Kagan Bilge Kanli

320 boxers from 38 countries have registered to contest the tournament: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, IBA – Germany, Greece, Hungary, IBA – Neutral, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, IBA – Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Wales.

The host city, Budva, has a special resonance for Team Ireland – it was the location of the 2022 Women’s European Championship, where the team came home with 3 gold, a silver and 2 bronze medals, topping the table in the process.

Team Ireland had a very successful campaign at the 2022 European U22 Championships in Porec, Croatia, in March of that year, returning with 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. The golds were claimed by heavyweight and now Paris 2024 Olympian, Jack Marley, Lisa O’Rourke who would claim a World gold just 2 months later, and 54kg Niamh Fay

The women’s team finished joint 2^nd in the tournament’s medals rankings and 3^rd out of 24 countries in the team rankings. Turkey and Italy were in first and second, respectively.

The men’s team finished 7th out of 33 nations – Turkey and Ukraine, with 13 boxers apiece, finished in first and second, respectively.

Day One Programme

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Watch Live

Day1, Ring A: 

 

Day 1, Ring B

Draw sheets – Men

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Draw sheets – Women

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Tournament Schedule

Team Ireland

48kg Nicole Buckley, St Carthages BC

50kg Chantelle Robinson, Saviours Crystal BC

57kg Robin Kelly, Ballynacargy BC

70kg Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa BC

75kg Bethany Doocey, Castlebar BC

81kg Dearbhla Tinnelly, Clann Naofa BC

48kg Padraig Downey, St. John Bosco BC, Antrim

51kg Clepson dos Santos, Holy Trinity BC

57kg Donagh Keary, Rathfriland BC

60kg Rhys Owens, Erne BC

63.5kg James “Shamie” McDonagh, St Paul’s Waterford

67kg Gareth Dowling, Dublin Docklands

75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands

80kg James Whelan, Dublin Dockland

86kg Kian Hedderman, O.L.O.L BC

Support Staff:

Team Manager, Sean Crowley

Coach: Jay Delaney

Coach: Lynne McEnery

Coach: Liam Cunningham

Coach: Aoife Hennigan

R&J: Stephen Kelly

High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, has been honoured this evening by the Olympic Federation of Ireland with the President’s Award.

The accolade, which describes Zauri as the “mastermind behind Team Ireland’s success in boxing” recognises significant contributions to Olympic sport in Ireland and was bestowed by OFI President, Sarah Keane.

Zauri has been a High Performance coach for 20 years, and Head Coach for a decade. In the last year alone, IABA Elite boxers have won two World titles (Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O’Rourke), two Men’s European Championship medals (Gabriel Dossen and Dylan Eagleson), 7 Women’s European Medals (Kellie Harrington, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Caitlyn Fryers, Tina Desmond and Shannon Sweeney), 3 medals at the prestigious Strandja Memorial Tournament. Five, Kellie Harrington, Aoife O’Rourke, Michaela Walsh, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley, claimed podium finishes at the European Games, and booked their tickets to Paris in the process.

Zauri’s impact on Irish boxing has been profound. Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, with 18 medals out of the country’s total of 35. Half of Ireland’s boxing medals have been won through Zauri’s coaching skills. That’s in addition to the over 140 medals in his tenure at major tournaments – World Championships, European Championships, European Games and EU Championships.

Interim High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, says “Long overdue recognition to the sport, Boxers and all the staff past and present that drive performance.

The event was attended by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, Olympic medallists, European Games athletes, Team Ireland Sponsors and Partners, Sport Ireland and the wider Olympic family

 

 

 

 

 

22 National Elite Champions have been crowned at the home of Irish boxing in a fantastic night of competition.

The 2024 National Elite Championship finals are another key step on the Road to Paris for IABA athletes. Five boxers – lightweight Olympic Champion, Kellie Harrington, Tokyo Olympians 75kg Aoife O’Rourke and 57kg Michaela Walsh, as well as 63.5kg Dean Clancy and 92kg Jack Marley, have already qualified for the 2024 Olympics.

Results

67kg Ryan McCarthy (Fr. Horgans) beat Cian Cramer (Cabra), 4-1

63kg Linda Desmond (Rylane) beat Isabella Hughes (St Marys D), 4-1

75kg Joshua Olaniyan (Jobstown) beat Christopher O’Reilly (Holy Family L), 5-0

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys D) beat Zara Breslin (Tramore), 5-0

48kg Lois Walsh (Fr Flanagans) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D), 4-1

48kg Bryce Collins (Holy Trinity) W/O

60kg Jason Nevin (Olympic L) beat Nathan May (Dublin Docklands), 3-2

54kg Jennifer Lehane (DCU Athletic) beat Niamh Fay (Ballyboughal), 5-0

57kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) beat Adam Hession (Monivea), 5-0

50kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Shannon Sweeney (St Annes), 5-0

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Olympic C) W/0

92+kg Martin McDonagh (Crumlin) beat Illia Mtsariashvili (Docklands), 5-0

71kg Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family L), 3-2

54kg Danny Duffy (Raphoe) beat Oisin Worsencroft (St Colmans), 5-0

92kg Jack Marley (Monkstown D) beat Wayne Rafferty (Dublin Docklands), 5-0

57kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG) beat Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherines), 5-0

70kg Shauna Kearney (Bunclody) W/O

51kg Sean Mari (Monkstown/Defence F) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family L), 5-0

66kg Grainne Walsh (St Marys D) beat Christina Desmond (Dungarvan), 5-0

80kg Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) beat Gabriel Dossen (Olympic C), 4-1

63.5kg Aaron O’Donoghue (Golden Gloves M) beat John Paul Hale (Star), 3-2

86kg Vitali Ustimov (Celtic Eagles) beat James Redmond (Ballybrack), 5-0

IABA is delighted to affirm a renewal of our partnership with Sport TG4.

This evening’s programme was live-streamed by Sport TG4 on YouTube. Seán Bán Breathnach, Cuán Ó Flatharta, Antoine Toto Ó Gríofa & Kaci Rock shared commentary & co-commentary. Re-watch all of the bouts here:

 

Records were broken this evening, as double Olympian, Michaela Walsh, and reigning Olympic Champion and Paris Olympian, Kellie Harrington. both claimed their 11th National Elite Championship titles. They contested against Kellie McLoughlin and Zara Breslin, respectively.

No tournament can take place without Officials, and the 2024 National Elite Championships is no different – thanks to the R&Js, bout machine operators, Box Masters, Glove Masters and our MC, Peter O’Donnell, for ensuring these were a fantastic championships

Eugene Duffy has been honoured for his decades of services to boxing with a Life Time Achievement Award, bestowed during this evening’s 2024 National Elite Championship Finals by National Registrar, Philip Rooney.

 

A native of Derry, Eugene began his boxing career in Derry Sports Club in 1957, joining St. Eugene’s BC in the early 1960s. By 1978, was officiating at county and Provincial level in Ulster. At the close of the decade, had begun officiating at national championships in the home of Irish Boxing.

In a long and illustrious career, Eugene has officiated at competitions including the 2003 World Elite Championships in Thailand, Olympic qualifiers in Europe, America and Trinidad and Tobago, European championships, USA World Golden Gloves Invitational Tournament in Minnesota in 2005, the Commonwealth Games finals in Kuala Lumpur in 2004, as well as over 70 other box cups, round robins and international tournaments.

Outside the ring, Eugene holds the record as the long-serving elected member of the Ulster Boxing Council. He has also served as UBC Registrar, and Chair of the provincial council’s Referee and Judging Committee. Closer to home, Eugene has held every position in the Derry County Board, bar that of Treasurer, and was a member of Central Council in the 1990s.

The President of St Joseph’s Boxing Club was honoured by the I.A.B.A. for Outstanding Services to Boxing in 2017.

This evening also marked the retirement from officiating of National Registrar, Philip Rooney.

The IBA 3 Star Referee has been an official for over 35 years, and has officiated at Category A events throughout the globe, as well as countless National Championship tournaments. His final national/international bout was this evening’s 60kg final, between Kellie Harrington and Zara Breslin. Philip will continue in his role as IABA National Registrar

IABA’s first Strategic Forum has taken place, at the National Stadium, Dublin, today.

The IABA’s Board of Directors is preparing to create the association’s Strategic Plan for the period 2024 to 2028. This will guide all forms of growth and development throughout the boxing community.

The first step was the launching of an Online Strategic Consultation, open to all adult members of all boxing clubs. This spanned the period October 25th to November 7th.

Today, Maeve Buckley, Founder and Executive Director of Leading Sport, facilitated the first forum of members – attended by around 30 people.

It included a group SWOT analysis of IABA, aspirations for the development of the association, and the next steps in the consultation process. This will include similar meetings throughout the association. Times, dates and locations will be announced in due course.

 

The IABA’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 11am on Saturday, November 18^th, could not proceed as a quorum was not achieved.

As per the IABA constitution, attendance of 40 clubs is required to achieve a quorum at an AGM – and, while 80 clubs out of 361 registered, 36 clubs attended, therefore, the meeting did not go ahead.

The AGM has been adjourned and re-fixed for 11am on Saturday, November 11^th in the National Stadium, Dublin. As per the IABA constitution, after 30 minutes has elapsed, the number of member clubs present is the quorum.

The AGM will include a ballot on an Ordinary Resolution for increase of Directors to appoint gender representative Board. This arises as: it is a government target to have 40% female representation in the board membership of national governing bodies of sport. The increase in the number of independent Directors from 2 (two) to 4 (four) is intended to assist in the meeting of these incentives.

39 sporting governing bodies, including the GAA, LGFA, Gymnastics Ireland, Swim Ireland and Hockey Ireland, have achieved this 40% target. Government requires sporting governing bodies to do so by the end of 2023. At present, IABA’s Board of Directors has 17% female representation.

The IABA constitution allows the increase of Directors by Ordinary Resolution by virtue of Object 46 but this amendment to the Constitution is intended to permanently incorporate the increased number of Directors by way of constitutional amendment.  Should the Ordinary Resolution be passed by Voting Delegates, and EGM will take place directly after the AGM to vote on enshrining the Ordinary Resolution in the IABA constitution.

Strategy Forum

Today’s Strategy Forum, as part of development of the association’s 2024-2028 strategy, which will set out the pathway for growth and progression in all areas of our sport, will go ahead.

It is taking place at the National Stadium, Dublin, at 1.30pm on Saturday, November 11th. Registration is now required.

Documents:

All documents pertaining to the AGM are available here and have been issued to all clubs.