Clondalkin secure places on Team Ireland
THE 2024 official National Championship recognised by Sport Ireland for cadets and juniors was held in the Tallaght Leisure Centre at the weekend.
The two-day event was split into light continuous/kick light on Day One and point fighting divisions on Day Two.
As this is the only official national kickboxing title that is recognised by Sport Ireland it was sure to be a hotly contested event from clubs all over Ireland converging in the Tallaght Leisure Centre for a shot at the official national title.
First and runner up spots would also mean automatic qualification to represent Team Ireland in the forthcoming WAKO Junior World Championships which will be contested in Budapest, Hungary at the end of August.
Local talented clubs LJays (Tallaght), TMA (Tallaght), Team Revolution (Lucan) and Clondalkin’s very own BMA outfit made up a large part of the categories looking for the coveted national title and with it a chance to compete for Team Ireland.
Head coach Ilija Salerno with Louise Shortt
BMA Clondalkin secured four spots on Team Ireland during the two-day championships.
13-year-old Louise Shortt moved up two weight divisions since last year’s outing and was in unstoppable form claiming two national titles.
Both golds were in the LC OC -50kg and PF OC – 50kg divisions.
She is currently in brilliant form also after her top results in the YOKOSO Open last week and is now on track to finish in the top three at the WAKO World Cup in Jesolo, Italy in a fortnight’s time.
Siblings Cayden and Roan Derwin have finally booked their spot on Team Ireland after losing out on a spot the past few years.
Arthur and Robert Dryja
This year they both finished in runner up positions in the JM KL -69kg and LC OC -37kg respectively. Younger brother Roan also finished joint third in the KL OC -37kg division.
Cayden’s JM KL -69kg category was one of the biggest divisions of the day.
The fourth member of Clondalkin’s Team Ireland members is Arthur Dryja who lost out by a couple of points in the final of the PF YC -42kg to a game opponent from Lucan’s Team Revolution.
Arthur’s younger brother Robert was extremely unlucky to lose out on a spot by losing from a single score in literally the last second of his two round semi-final battle in the PF YC -37kg division.
Michal Siry took bronze in the LC OC -52kg division losing out to reigning champion Nathan Clarke from TMA.
The two-day event was also the first round of the senior eliminations for the official senior Team Ireland where the second round will be held in Carrickmacross in April.
Sean Hawkins and Robert Barrett were Clondalkin’s only two senior competitors this time round.
Both finished in second place in their respective categories where they are still in with a strong chance of claiming the top-ranking spot for Team Ireland in round 2.
