IRISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

YAMAKWAI FINISH OFF YEAR ON TOP

Yamakwai won 14 National Titles and the Female & Male Player of the Tournament Awards at the Irish National Championships in Dublin last weekend. Laoise Ferris and Matthew Rooney (above) topped off a successful weekend by becoming Yamakwai’s first ever recipients of the ‘Player of the Tournament’ Awards.

The Senior and Junior events took place on Saturday and our ladies team got the club off to a great start, clocking up 6 Irish Titles between three of our most established competitors.

There can’t be too many domestic records left to break for Lisa Kearney but she did manage to become the first player to win 4 Gold medals at the National Championships (Junior & Senior -52kg, Junior & Senior Open). Two other girls who have previously won 3 Titles in the one Championships, Gemma Reynolds and Emma Scott (nee McCabe), won their respective weight categories winning all their contests by Ippon. Caoimhin Thompson and Matthew Rooney won their Gold medals in the Junior event taking the club total to 8 Golds for the day. The rest of Yamakwai’s medals went to Gemma Reynolds (Women’s -57kg, silver) Michael Ferris (Mens -90kg, bronze and Masters -90kg, bronze) and Larry Gillen (Masters -90kg, bronze).

A special congratulation must go to the club’s two newest Dan Grade’s. Caoimhin Thompson became one of Yamakwai’s youngest ever male Black Belts at just 16 years old. Michael Ferris may not be 16, or even remember 16, but his achievement of winning his Dan Grade within 2 years of taking up the sport is equally commendable.

On Sunday it was the turn of the Minors (-12yrs) and Cadets (-17yrs). Yamakwai fielded an inexperienced team this year but still managed some fantastic performances. Similar to the recent Irish Open Championships it was Laoise Ferris and Gary Reynolds who got the club off to a winning start in the two lightest categories. Laoise won Gold in the -27kg whilst Gary had to retire from the final contest of the -25kg category due to injury. Big sister Hannah won Gold in the -40kg category bringing the Reynolds family haul to an incredible 3 Golds and 2 Silver medals. Yamakwai’s other Gold medals went to Christopher Herald, Matthew Rooney, Gemma Reynolds and a very fine performance by Eoin Fleming brought the club total to 14 National Titles.

And so Yamakwai finish the another National Championships with more than twice as many Irish Titles as the second most successful club in the country. Although this years total was down on recent years, the return of Debbie Doherty, Zack Mitchell, Neil Pimley, John, Conor and Mary Clare Kennedy in the New Year, will considerably strengthen the clubs competitive challenge for 2008.

Club coaches, Steven McCluskey, Eamonn Cunningham, Emma Scott and Cushla Rogers were very pleased with the young members’ overall performances and must be congratulated on their efforts throughout 2007. Congratulations too for Emma who is now a member of the new IJA National Coaching Staff.

YAMAKWAI MEMBERS ON 2008 IRISH NATIONAL SQUAD