2006 Irish Judo Championships

Last weekend the club recorded the best performance in an Irish Championships in twenty years. Twenty-one of our finest competitors made the journey to the National Judo centre in Finglas, Dublin where they swept the boards winning nearly three times as many Irish titles as the second best club in the country. Yamakwai’s status as the best Judo club in the country was strengthened further with an incredible 15 Irish titles. There are four age groups in the National Championships; Minor (-12years), Junior (-16), Youth (-20) & Senior (14yrs+). Yamakwai (Japanese for Black Mountain) managed to win a number of Titles in each age group.

Fiona Barr won her third Irish title in a row at the tender age of 11 and has now made her way onto the Irish Junior Squad as did Eoin Fleming who picked up his second Irish title in as many years. Both these players were hot favourites to reclaim their titles but the rest of the club’s –12yrs representatives were very inexperienced in comparison. Despite this the youngest group of Yamakwai players walked away with a further 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze medals. Laoise Ferris, granddaughter of the club founder Jimmy Ward, excelled in her first ever competition winning Silver. Another strong Yamakwai family, Reynolds, picked up a total of 2 Gold and 2 Silver medals. Young Gary Reynolds won Silver in the tiny –25kg category, as did sister Hanna in the –33kg. Big sister and Irish international, Gemma, won Gold in the Juniors and cousin Laura won gold at her first Irish championships. Jack Turley won his first Irish title in the boys –34kg division, Catherine Donnelly put in her best ever performance to win Silver in the girls. Jordan Thompson and Daniel McCullough also impressed in their respective categories winning a Bronze medal each.

In the Junior section Irish internationals Gemma Reynolds, Matthew Rooney and Caoimhin Thompson had comfortable wins. Caoimhin went on to win the –20 title and Silver in the Senior mens category. For a 14-year-old lad this was truly a remarkable performance over the two days. He has been rewarded with an invitation to represent Ireland on the European Cadet (-17) circuit starting in Spain in April. He should hope to emulate his clubmate Lisa Kearney who performed so well on that circuit reaching a number 1 european ranking for a time last year. Lisa won another two Irish titles at the weekend in the –20 and Senior womens –52kg category. The performance of the day went to Debbie Doherty who won three Gold medals in total – Youth, Senior & Open categories. Debbie has now won more Irish titles than anyone in Yamakwai’s distinguished history. The Kennedy family brought home a carload of medallists with Mary Clare winning the womens –57kg, younger sisters Aoife and Deirdre, and brother John all winning Bronze medals.

With the current crop of players the all time Irish record of 20 national titles in a single year ( set by Yamakwai 1986) could be on the cards for next year!

Yamakwai Results

Minor (-12yrs)

Gold: Fiona Barr-30kg. Laura Reynolds +44kg. Jack Turley –34kg.
Eoin Fleming –37kg
Silver: Laoise Ferris-25kg. Hannah Reynolds-33kg. Catherine Donnelly+44kg
Gary Reynolds –25kg.
Bronze: Jordan Thompson –31kg. Daniel McCullough –37kg

Junior (-16yrs)

Gold: Gemma Reynolds –48kg. Matthew Rooney –41kg. Caoimhin Thompson–60kg
Silver: Ciara Sullivan –63kg. Eoin Fleming –37kg
Bronze: Amy Steele –40kg. Deirdre Kennedy –57kg. Aoife Kennedy –63kg

Youth (-20yrs)

Gold: Lisa Kearney-52kg. Debbie Doherty-63kg. Caoimhin Thompson-60kg
Bronze: Carl Greer –66kg. John Kennedy –73kg.

Senior

Gold: Lisa Kearney-52kg.Mary Clare Kennedy-57kg. Debbie Doherty-63kg
Cushla Rodgers –70kg
Silver: Caoimhin Thompson –60kg. Neill Pimley –81kg
Bronze: Emma Louise McCabe –63kg. Larry Gillen –90kg
5th Place: Carl Greer –66kg. John Kennedy –73kg

Open Category (Any Weight)

Gold: Debbie Doherty
Bronze: Emma Louise McCabe & Cushla Rodgers

Yamakwai Total

15 Gold (Irish Champions)
8 Silver
11 Bronze