Features
Features
Two recent IJF World Circuit results have further strengthened Lisa Kearney's bid for 2012 Olympic qualification.
Following the World Cup Bronze in Kazakhstan, Lisa represented Ireland at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A credible performance produced a 5th place finish that included a notable win over 2011 Grand Slam & Grand Prix medalist Elena Moretti of Italy. Moretti, who recently also won the Rome World Cup, sits two places above Kearney in the Olympic Ranking list so there was more than a quarter final place at stake when they met in Abu Dhabi. A Golden Score win for Ireland set up a medal fight with tournament favourite and eventual Gold medalist, Yamagishi of Japan. Lisa competed well with Yamagishi but got caught chasing the contest with 4 seconds remaining.
A last minute decision to participate in the Apia World Cup proved to be a prudent move as Lisa went on to win a Silver medal in Samoa last weekend.A very small but very strong entry made the long journey to the south pacific. 5 of the field have won 8 World Cup Gold medals in 2011 alone.A very important semi final win against European Medalist Ana Hormingo (POR) was the highlight of the event for Kearney and set up a final contest with Paula Pareto of Argentina. The Olympic medalist scored Yuko in the first 30 seconds and Lisa struggled to get near her for the rest of the match. Nevertheless a 5th, Bronze and Silver in consecutive IJF events reflects the good form Lisa is currently showing.
She will take that good form into the remaining IJF events in 2011, the Amsterdam Grand Prix, Tokyo Grand Slam & Qingdao Grand Prix.
Retirement Tribute To Harry McGuigan 6th Dan
I first met Harry McGuigan in early 2002 when he had just taken over as manager of the Irish Masters Squad, just in time to compete in Derry in June of that year. The World Masters Judo was gathering momentum and Willie Lyons and Jack Dennis had both suggested I should take part. They both characteristically said “ah you know Harry” but in fact I didn’t as I was just a social judoka up to that point.
After a week of cheering on the impressive Irish performances in Derry, Harry was delighted to take Bronze in his own category. He told me at the medal ceremony that he hadn’t competed since 1984 and had had no idea how he would fare. The following year the Master Athlete event was hosted in the Kodokan in Tokyo and the Irish Master Squad moved up a gear to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Harry and Willie organised fund-raising nights and Harry hosted Master Squad sessions on a regular basis. In Harry’s own words to me these were as much bonding exercises as training sessions and I found out over later events that the Irish Master Squad were the envy of some other Nations because of the way we trained, travelled and indeed wined and dined together on a National level.
In those Golden pre-recession days Harry was also able to organise some modest funding from the Irish Judo Association. After Japan, Harry guided the Squad as far afield as Austria, Brazil, Canada for further World Masters glories including his personal best of Silver (2007), more Bronzes (2005 and 2008), and fifth places (2003 & 2004). Although Harry and I missed the very start of the Movement, we were in Hungary in 2003 for the very first EJU organised event where on the first day he took Gold. Subsequent World and European events have suggested to me that the European Event is equally if not more challenging than the World events but Harry proved this was no fluke by taking Silver in 2006.
As more Nations began to host Masters’ events or at least introduce the category into regular events, Harry was also able to take Gold in the Irish Open (2002),USA Masters (2003), Austrian (2005) and Hungarian Masters, as well as medals in Belgium, France and Britain. His fighting records speak for themselves but I also have fond memories of Harry organising flights, accommodation and competition entries and constantly e-mailing or texting the Master Squad Members to keep them informed and motivated,using both his native Irish and his entertaining English to keep us involved.
He also inspired by suffering through a number of serious injuries which hampered his training but not his competing and was known to consider a number of retirements to appease his family’s concerns before the call of the mat became too strong to resist. Willie Lyons even organised a presentation which proved to be premature! Early in the year Harry indicated to me that he was considering retirement (only from this aspect of his vast judo career) and finally in September 2011 he confirmed that, due to injury and new family commitments, he was standing down from the Master Squad.
Too often in life we only honour those that have passed away and I am delighted to have this opportunity to thank and honour Harry for his contribution to Irish Masters’ Judo. As he reminded me both verbally and by his presence at recent Dan Gradings and the Leinster Open he is very much still active in all his other judo commitments. His contribution to Irish Judo will outlive us all!
for more photos...look here
Donal Tannam
Master Squad Member since 2002
******Calendar of Events 2012*******
In an effort to promote Irish Judo Association Events directly to members rather than through clubs alone, the Calendar of Events will be a permanent feature of the front page of the IJA website. Anytime an amendment occurs, the date will change to reflect same, the Calendar of Events will also be in the Download section of the website under Club Circulars.The Calendar of Events 26th January 2012 is now available.
Build it Week April 25th 2010 proceeded on schedule with the Haven Partnership, work still continues to rebuild Haiti four months after one of the most devastating earthquakes hit Haiti on the 12th January 2010. Following the successful Kilkenny Judothon in March 2010, the turn of Waterford Judo Club is next. Saturday 22nd May is the date,City Square Waterford is the venue, time is from 11am to 3pm. The Irish Judo Association will be catching up with the co-ordinators to get the final dates for the next few judothons. The Haven Partnership welcomes any and all donations.
The Cavan Open took place in Cavan Swimming & Leisure Complex Saturday 8th May 2010.
For a return to the calendar after an absence of a number of years, there was a fantastic
amount of entries from all over Ireland which made for spectacular displays of judo. 
Cavan Open 2010 - Results.
To mark the the 26 years of judo in Cavan the coach of Cavan Judo Club Mr Adrian Boyle invited
some guests to the tournament, Mr John McGahern & Mr John Farrell who had started a
judo club in Bailieborough some 30 years ago, presented the medals to all the Cadets winners.
The special guest on the day was Mr Sean Gallagher from Dragons Den, a former Cavan Judo Club member
and holder of a judo black belt. Sean was very pleased to be invited to the Cavan Open, it had been
20 years since he last stepped on to a judo mat. A special presentation was made to Sean of a Judogi
by the Vice President of the Irish Judo Association Mr Harry McGuigan and Mr Paul Cummins. Sean duly
obliged and donned his Judogi and stepped on to the mat were he found his judo skills slowly coming back,
he was soon throwing some of the IJA members about and it was clear to see that he never lost the judo touch.
Sean presented medals to all the winners along with Messrs John & John & PJ.
Sean spent some time talking to the judoka and coaches about the changes in Judo in the last 20 years,
and said it was great to see Paul Cummins who he remembers having many session with on the judo mat
quite a few years ago. Cavan Judo Club members and parents would like to thank Paul Cummins, Antoinette McMahon,
the judo referees & the table personnel for their invaluable assistance, thanks John McGahern, John Farrell
& P.J. for all their help & thanks to our very special guest Mr Sean Gallagher for coming to our tournament.
Adrian Boyle
Cavan Judo Club Coach
National Cadet Team for EJU Cadet Continental Cup, Spain 27th March 2010
Eoin Fleming will make his EJU Cadet Continental Cup debut in Fuengirola, Spain this weekend. This has been a successful tournament for Irish teams in the past, with both Lisa Kearney (2005) and Matthew Rooney (2008) winning Gold medals and launching their international careers. Highly respected Coach, Alan Jones, who was at the helm when Matthew won the Title two years ago, will be with Eoin in Spain where he will be trying to qualify for the European Cadet Championships this July.
-60kg Eoin Fleming (self-funded)
Coach: Alan Jones.
Team Official: Sean Fleming
Lisa Kearney won the English Open 21.03.10 at -52kg category. This was Irelands first medal in this event since Gerard Turner’s title in 2006. This was Lisa’s final competitive outing before the European Championships in Vienna next month where she will compete at -48kg.
Lloyd Manning recently joined Lisa for a 3-week training camp in Seoul, Korea in preparation for the Europeans and forthcoming Olympic qualification period.
National Junior Team for EJU Junior Continental Cup, Portugal 27th & 28th March 2010
The EJU Junior Continental Cup season gets on the way this weekend in Portugal. Three athletes (Louise Brown, Caoimhin Thompson & Dillon Manning) will be making their debut at this level for Ireland and will be hoping to secure qualification for the 2010 Junior European Championships in Bulgaria this September. They will be joined by Matthew Rooney who won a Bronze medal at this event last year.
National Team
-52kg Louise Brown
-55kg Matthew Rooney (self-funded)
-73kg Caoimhin Thompson
-81kg Dillon Manning
Coaches; Ciaran Ward & Annette Smyth
Louise Brown
Caoimhin Thompson
Dear Member,
No doubt you are aware of the catastrophic consequences of the earthquake in Haiti and the devastation left in its wake. The Irish Judo Association feel that we can make a difference by showing our solidarity and compassion in doing what we can to support the enormous international efforts and the extraordinary work of the countless volunteers. We are delighted to announce in conjunction with Haven Partnership that it is our intention with the support of all clubs and members throughout Ireland to run The Haitian Judothon on March 13th 2010, starting at 11am and finishing at 3pm. Details of the venues and co-ordinators will be available shortly via our website. We would ask all Judoka to contact their nearest co-ordinator to ensure each venue is a success and that much needed funds are raised for this cause. venues simultaneously throughout Ireland on
Haven is a house and community building NGO which was working in Haiti before the earthquake. Haven is now involved in the emergency response helping the survivors of the quake and will be involved in rebuilding Haiti.
Yours in Judo,
Francis Treanor
President, Irish Judo Association
Co-Ordinators
Waterford Region - Tommy Kavanagh, Cork Region - David Holmes, Kerry Region - Danny Roche & Tadgh Kelly, Tipperary Region - James Mulroy, Dublin Region - Paul Cummins, Ray Stears & Leo Gibbons, Galway Region - Tony Allen & Francis Treanor, Cavan/Tyrone Region - Adrian Boyle & Harry McGuigan, Belfast Region - Ciaran Ward & Mark Montgomery, Donegal Region - Seamus Gallagher, Derry Region - Paul Green.
Leo Gibbons from Swords Judo Club would like to announce their upcoming Table Quiz, all support would be greatly appreciated.
See here for details:
Morning classes for adults every Tuesday and Thursday from 11am-12:30pm.
All judokas are welcome from begginer to Dan grade level. We also invite juniors and cadets to train at breaks during the school year ( same time). Please contact Valery to discuss details: 086-1514377, The Mill Community Centre, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
Please find attached, results from the Kilkenny Open 2010
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Mr Paul Cummins, Paul Cummins School of Judo
THROW OF THE DAY: Mr Darragh Trulock, Phoenix Judo Club
SPIRIT OF THE DAY: Miss Sanda Rosu, Swords Judo Club
