Smithfield Boxing Club’s international Open Class tournament, Smithfield Boxfest 2020, will not take place, as scheduled, this October because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament, which has attracted top quality competitors from Ukraine, Russia, Australia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Poland, England, Italy and across Ireland, was due to enter its 8th year.

Smithfield Boxing Club Head Coach, Igor Khmil, said: “Mindful of the fact that these are extraordinary times, globally, and that Smithfield Boxfest is an international tournament, we feel that we have no option but to cancel this year’s competition.”

“Whilst this is an enormously regrettable decision for us as a club and for our organising committee we hope it will have the knock-on effect of helping to free-up the county, provincial and national calendars when competitions resume, easing pressure, somewhat, on boxers, coaches and officials.”

He added: “It seems, to us, to be in the best interests of Irish boxing to do so, and to communicate this decision at the earliest possible opportunity, to assist in re-scheduling of existing and remaining tournaments”

Ciara Plunkett, SBC Secretary, said: “We had 7 competitor nations and over 50 teams at last year’s tournament, and we remain grateful to each and every one of the officials, and our own club volunteers, who make holding a competition such as ours possible. We are looking forward to continuing to build Smithfield Boxfest’s international reputation as an Open Class tournament. and will now re-focus for 2021”

Smithfield Boxfest, 2021, is now, provisionally, scheduled for September 30th to October 3rd.

Clubforce, the official data partner of the Federation of Irish Sport, is hosting weekly webinars covering fundraising online during the COVID-19 crisis.

Clubforce have an introductory offer where organisations/clubs can sign up for online lotto and not incur a sign-up fee for the first three months.

Click here for more details

European medallist Grainne Walsh features in a Dare to Believe Challenge Video launched by the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/T-YgHRV8qxA

The Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) Dare to Believe Circuit Challenge Video was launched today, with the aim of providing a fun exercise circuit for school children that they can complete at home. The video features top Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are ambassadors on the Dare to Believe programme which was launched last year.

The OFI are also announcing today that the Dare to Believe programme has been adapted for the current environment and can be rolled out by teachers online to their classes. Teachers should REGISTER HERE if they are interested in taking part in the programme and getting more information.  This evening Olympian and Dare to Believe ambassador Thomas Barr will be taking over our Instagram page to answer questions from 7-8pm.

The Dare to Believe Circuit Challenge video features Team Ireland Olympians Claire Lambe, Brendan Boyce and Shane O’Donoghue, European Games Medallist Grainne Walsh, Paralympian Greta Streimkyte and International Modern Pentathlete Sive Brassil. The workout gives children the opportunity to choose which exercise they want to do, with two athletes on the screen at all times bringing the viewer through a fun and achievable home circuit.

Dare to Believe was launched following an investment by the OFI and the International Olympic Committee in February 2019 with the aim of bringing the Olympics to the classroom and is championed and supported by the OFI Athletes’ Commission. Schools nationwide participated in the programme which promoted Olympism, Paralympism and the benefits of sport, with one of the twelve ambassadors visiting the class on the final day of the lesson.

In the first year Dare to Believe exceeded all its original goals with 5000 schoolchildren across 60 schools passing through the programme, spanning 14 counties. The feedback from the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are delighted to be able to continue to offer it to teachers and schoolchildren during these challenging times.

Dare to Believe was developed for the OFI by 2008 Olympian Roisin McGettigan, who competed in the steeplechase and who has been managing the programme so far,

“The first year of the Dare to Believe programme exceeded our expectations, and the response from our brilliant ambassadors, teachers and students were overwhelmingly positive. With schooling being forced to move to distance learning via online platforms we are delighted to be now able to continue to offer the programme through our online resources, and virtual ambassador visits. As the programme includes over 72 educational strands, teachers have been particularly welcoming about it, as it is a fun, informative and interactive addition to their curriculum. We are also delighted to launch our first Circuit Challenge video featuring many of our elite Team Ireland ambassadors, and to introduce it as a fun way for students, and the whole family, to keep fit at home.”

Olympian Thomas Barr is one of the twelve Dare to Believe Ambassadors and will be manning the Team Ireland Instagram page tonight between 7-8pm. Ireland’s top hurdler has enjoyed being part of the programme to date,

“While it was daunting at first, I have loved every minute of being involved with the Dare to Believe Programme and seeing the excitement and enjoyment that the kids get from each visit! I couldn’t believe the impact it had on some of the children and I was extremely impressed with the interest they showed through their questions and participation. I feel very lucky to be in a position to be able to make a difference and to bring such excitement and hopefully and impactful message to the next generation.”

Some of the legends of Irish boxing recorded wins in an impressive away performance by Ireland versus Wales in Barry 30 years ago.

Drimnagh BC pair Paul Griffin and Michael Carruth – who would go on to win gold at the European Elites in Gotenburg and the Barcelona Olympics in 1991 and 1992 – had their hands raised in victory on walkovers.

Also a World Elite medallist, Carruth received a walkover over Joe Calzaghe who switched codes, claimed a WBO title and retired undefeated after 46 wins (32 by way of KO) in the pro ranks.

It’s believed that Calaghe had to withdraw from the all southpaw battle with Carruth because of an injury. Our money would have been on the Olympic gold medalists versus the WBO titlist!

Almost ironically, given that Ireland posted a 9-2 victory, the visitors had to come from behind to win after Pat Cosgrave lost out in the first bout.

Roy Nash, John McEvoy, Brian Geraghty, Gordon Joyce, Denis Galvin, Dan Curran, Raymond Keane, Griffin and Carruth won at the Vale Of Glamorgan Leisure Centre.

Eddie Fisher also lined out for Ireland versus Wales.

The results from the second leg are unavailable but Ireland won the Celtic derby 18-4.

Wales v Ireland 

Vale of Glamorgan, Barry, Wales

November 23, 1990

48kg Mark Hughes (WAL) beat Pat Cosgrove (IRL) AB2
54kg Roy Nash (IRL) beat Steve Cook (WAL) RSC2
54kg Paul Griffin (IRL) beat Julian Cody (WAL) WO.
60kg John McEvoy (IRL) beat Lee Butler (WAL) 2:1
63,5kg Brian Geraghty (IRL) beat Jason Matthews (WAL) 2:1
67kg Michael Smyth (WAL) beat Eddie Fisher (IRL) 3:0
67kg Michael Carruth (IRL) beat Joe Calzaghe (WAL) WO.
71kg Gordon Joyce (IRL) beat Matthew Turner WAL 2:1
75kg Denis Galvin (IRL) beat Steve Thomas WAL 3:0
81kg Dan Curran (IRL) beat Lee Hogan WAL 3:0
91kg Raymond Kane (IRL) beat Hank Hartt WAL PTS

Minister of State for Sport, Brendan Griffin, T.D, yesterday hosted the latest online meeting with representatives of the sporting sector. The engagement focused on the broad range of impacts on sporting organisations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The meeting also considered the steps that would need to be taken in preparing for a return to sporting activity when public health circumstances allowed.

The sports sector representatives were: Mary O Connor (Federation of Irish Sport), Tom Ryan (GAA), Philip Browne (IRFU), Gary Owens (FAI), Ronan Murphy (Horse Sport Ireland), Niamh Daffy (CARA), Miriam Malone (PI), Jerome Pels (Hockey Ireland), Warren Deutrom (Cricket Ireland) and Graham Russell (Local Sports Partnerships).

CEO Fergal Carruth represented the IABA at a previous online meeting with the Minister,

Minister Griffin said: “Through my ongoing engagement with the sporting sector, I am acutely aware of how much Irish sport is being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resilience and commitment of the people who organise and run sport in Ireland has been very evident during this crisis. I greatly appreciate that, like so many other sectors, sport in Ireland has stepped up to the plate and is showing great determination to play its part in these extremely difficult times.

“With no fixtures taking place and major events being postponed, every sport has been brought to a halt. The Government is so appreciative of what sport is doing for the country at this time, including making facilities available as well as sports club members looking out for vulnerable people in their communities. All those who love sport are missing their normal pursuits and this is very difficult for sportspeople at every level. People at home want to stay physically active and there is welcome evidence all over the country of people going out for walks and runs within a 2km radius. This is definitely good for their wellbeing and I encourage more of it. I heard today of the great work being done by Local Sports Partnerships countrywide in facilitating this increased physical activity, which deserves to be publicly applauded.

“We are all are united in the aim of ensuring that the sector will recover when sport returns. The Government’s range of vital supports is helping sport in Ireland to survive and we will continue to maintain a constant dialogue with the sector during this rapidly evolving situation. The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted just how important sport is to the Irish people and I know that sport will have an enormous role in helping Ireland return to normality when we get through this situation.”