EUROPEAN ELITE WOMEN’S FINALS

IABA News

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington will be presented with their medals at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

Both women reached the last-four and will be bringing home double bronze from the 11th edition of the tournament.

The Belfast and Dublin pair also qualified for the 2019 European Games in Belarus after finishing in the top ten in their respective feather and light classes.

Grainne Walsh also qualifies for the European Games, as the opponent that beat her in the last 16, Russia’s Iaroslava Iakushina, is through to today’s welter final.

The quarter-finalists, plus the boxers who were beaten by the eventual finalist in the last 16, qualify in the five designated limits for the European Games.

The three-strong Irish squad lost to three finalists in Sofia.

Reacting after Monday’s narrow 3-2 split decision to Russia’s Daira Abramova, Michaela Walsh said she’s determined to bounce back stronger.

“A lot of positives to take as I feel I am improving all the time. Only my second tournament at this weight and I’m getting stronger and fitter everyday. No one or nothing will stand in my way. I am a winner,” she said via social media.

Ireland’s has now won 10 medals at the European Women’s Elites since the inaugural tournament in 2001.

Irish European Women’s Elite Championships Medalists

2018: 57kg Michaela Walsh (Bronze)
2018: 60kg Kellie Harrington (Bronze)
2016: 75kg:Christina Desmond (Bronze)
2014: 69kg: Claire Grace (Bronze)
2005/06/07/09/11/14: 60kg: Katie Taylor (6 Gold)

Today’s finals begin at 3pm (Irish time)

Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 7.30pm tomorrow evening.

(Aer Lingus  EI 175  13 (June)  London Heathrow Dublin  1810- 1930)

Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane

 

 

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 2-3
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 1-4

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

 

WALSH AND HARRINGTON SETTLE FOR BRONZE IN SOFIA

IABA News

 

 

 

 

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington had to settle for bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

Dublin lightweight Harrington was beaten on a 4-1 split decision in the semi-finals of the tournament by Finland’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Mira Potkonen.

Neither woman dominated a tight but open bout. Harrington, switching from southpaw to orthodox and back, found the target with crisp jabs in all three rounds, Potkonen responding with solid combinations.

Harrington impressed with an excellent left straight right down the middle in the third, but Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, again replied with combinations approaching the ten second clapper for the end of the round and the fight, a repeat of the 20017 EU final which the Finn won.

The Dubliner will be bringing home bronze from Sofia and also a ticket for the 2019 European Games as the 11th edition of the European Women’s Elites are a qualifier for Games which will be hosted in Belarus. The top ten in the lightweight class qualify.

Belfast feather Walsh, the current EU champion, lost on a 3-2 split verdict to Russian feather Daria Abramova, who Harrington has beaten in the past, after a tight and cagey 57kg decider.

Walsh  landed enough shots in all three rounds, and worked well to the body in the first. Abramova, a stand up and solid fighter, was effective at close range when she managed to find her way beyond Walsh’s jab.

Walsh, the current EU champion, got the better of a furious flurry in the final  few seconds of the third and final frame, but a majority of judges opted for Abramova who is aiming to become a two-weight European champion.

Today’s results bring Ireland’s competitive interest in the tournament to a close. Both Harrington and Walsh will be presented with their bronze medals during Tuesday’s finals.

 

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 2-3

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 1-4

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

 

HARRINGTON EDGED OUT IN EUROPEAN SEMI-FINAL

IABA News

Kellie Harrington (red) in action

 

Kellie Harrington had to settle for bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today

The Dublin lightweight was beaten on a 4-1 split decision in the semi-finals of the tournament by Finland’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Mira Potkonen.

Neither woman dominated a tight but open contest. Dublin-native Harrington, switching from southpaw to orthodox and back, found the target with crisp jabs in all three rounds; Potkonen responding with solid combinations.

Harrington impressed with an excellent left straight right down the middle in the third, but Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, again replied with combinations
approaching the ten second clapper for the end of the round and the bout, a repeat of the 20017 EU final which the Finn won

Harrington will be bringing home bronze from Sofia and also a ticket for the 2019 European Games as the 11th edition of the European Women’s Elites is a qualifier for Games which will be hosted in Belarus. The top ten in the lightweight class in Bulgaria qualify.

Michaela Walsh, the current EU champion, lost to Russian feather Daria Abramova on a 3-2 split decision in the last-four this afternoon.

Abramova beat Potkonen in the 2016 European lightweight final but has since dropped down to feather.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 2-3
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 1-4

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy

 

EUROPEAN ELITE WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS

IABA News

Fourteen nations are assured of at least bronze at the 11th European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Ireland, courtesy of Belfast featherweight Michaela Walsh and Dublin lightweight Kellie Harrington, will be bringing two of those medals.

The Irish duo, who have recorded five wins between them this week, will be back between the ropes in Sofia tomorrow aiming to upgrade their guaranteed bronze to at least silver.

Harrington meets Finland’s Olympic bronze medalist Mira Potkonen, who beat current unified WBA/IBF champion Katie Taylor in the Bray woman’s last fight in the amateur ranks at Rio 2016.

The Harrington versus Potkonen three-rounder is a repeat of the 2017 European Union final which the Finn won.

Current European Union champion Walsh is in against Russia’s current European Elite champion Daira Abramova.

The Russian orthodox, who lost to Harrington in a multi-nations tournament last year, beat Potkonen in the 2016 European lightweight final but has since dropped down to feather.

Irish boxing has impressively claimed – including Harrington’s and Walsh double  – 24 medals in European Elite/U/22/Youth and Schoolboy/girl tournaments since March.

Meantime, Irish women’s boxing has now won ten European Elite medals since the inaugural tournament in 2001. Katie Taylor (six gold), Clare Grace (bronze), Christina Desmond (bronze), Kellie Harrington (at least bronze) and Michaela Walsh (at least bronze) have, and will, finish in podium positions.

(Image: Irish squad and staff in Sofia)

Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane

 

Bronze medals guaranteed per nation at 2018 European Women’s Elite Championships

Russia: 9

Bulgaria: 6

Turkey, Ukraine: 4

Italy: 3

Belarus, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland: 2

Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Wales: 1

HARRINGTON JOINS WALSH IN EUROPEAN SEMI-FINALS

IABA News

Kellie Harrington guaranteed Ireland at least a second bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Dublin lightweight beat Iulia Tsyplakova to join Michaela Walsh in Monday’s semi-finals.

Harrington earned a 4-1 split decision over the Ukrainian this afternoon.

She’ll now meet Finland’s Mira Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, in the last-four on Monday.

The Finn, beaten five times by Taylor before the Rio shock, saw off Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in today’s corresponding 60kg semi-final.

Walsh is in against Russia’s Daria Abramova in the 57kg semi-final on Monday.

A two-time Commonwealth finalist and the current European Union feather champion, the Belfast feather has won three fights in Sofia this week.

Today’s win was Harrington’s second in two days in the Bulgaria capital.

Sunday is a rest day at the 11th edition of the Women’s European Elites. The semi-finals and finals will be decided on Monday and Tuesday.

European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria

June 5

Last 32

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0

June 6

Last 16

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0

June 7

Last 16

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0

69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5

June 8

Q/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2

June 9

Q/Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1

June 11

S/Final

57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Daria Abramova (Russia)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze, at least)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy