Ireland finish kickboxing World Championships with 45 medals
The WAKO Junior World Championship finished on Saturday and the Irish team left with their best ever medal haul.
The competitions closed with the team events, which saw both the Junior team and the Younger Cadets getting bronze medals.
A hugely successful performance across all age ranges and disciplines saw Ireland gather an impressive 45 medals - 16 of them gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze.
Eight of the gold medals came from four competitors who managed to achieve gold in two categories.
Jesse Jane McParland earned gold in both open hand and weapons forms, while Karyna Nikitina, Dalton O’Shaughnessy and Colm Carroll received their gold medals in the point fighting and light continuous disciplines.
National coach’s Dave Heffernan, Ilija Salerno, Elaine Small, Ian Kingston, Pat Evans and Jimmy Upton did a fantastic job training the athletes for the tournament. Since the team was selected back in March at the national eliminations they have been working with the athletes to prepare for the trip to Italy.
With training camps and sparring sessions throughout the year, they deserve much of the credit for this record breaking year.
The athletes themselves have dedicated their time to the competition, fitting six to seven training sessions a week in between school and homework.
The fighters that didn’t reach the podium this year can also hold their heads high as they were perfect ambassadors for their country on and off the tatamis, turning up to support their team mates and spur them on to victory.
Jesse Jane McParland x2 - Open hand forms and weapons forms
Karyna Nikitina x2 - Points and light contact
Dalton O’Shaughnessy x2 - Points and light contact
Colm Carroll x2 - Points and light contact
Seaneen Flynn - Full contact, also best fighter of the tournament in full contact
Jordan Doran - Points, also best fighter in point fighting.
Adam O’Flynn - Musical forms open hand
Jack Ferighy - Musical forms open hand
Adam Condon - Points
Áine Leonard - Light contact
Nathan Tait - Points.
Luke Smith - Light contact
Ronán Smith - Points
Niall Carroll - Light contact
Luke Smith - Light contact
Shannon Gayson - Points
Brendan Kenny - Light contact
John Fetherston - Light contact
Eadoin McCrave - Open hand forms
JJ Battell - Open hand forms
Emily Foley - Open hand forms
Adam O’Flynn - Weapons forms
Aoife Bailey - Weapons forms
Jack Ferighy - Weapons forms
JJ Battell - Weapons forms
Emily Foley - Weapons forms
Ben Hennessy - Open hand forms
Billy McLawrence - Weapons forms
Peter Carr - Full contact
Botond Rosza - Kick light
Adam Condon - Light contact
David Slaney - Light contact
Felix Hawksworth - Light contact
Marie Connolly - Light contact
Nicole Bannon - Light contact
Lauren Bradshaw - Light contact
Nathan Kelly - Point fighting
Luke McCann - Pont fighting
Aoife Bailey - Point fighting
James Duffy - Point fighting
Leah Farrell - Point fighting
Kerrie Browne - Point fighting
Team Ireland - Younger cadets point fighting team event
Team Ireland - Junior point fighting team event
Well done to all involved.
With thanks to brannmanndan.com for pictures, video and updates throughout the week.
