Success for Offaly club at WKO All Ireland National Kickboxing Championships

BIRR k-1 Kickboxing club had a very successful outing at the recent All-Ireland Championships held at Colaiste Chiarain School in Athlone.

Over 300 fighters competed on the day with the Birr club having 16 fighters in action and they came away with with a impressive haul of medals 14 in total, including three All Ireland Kickboxing Champions.

Birr actually finished third on the medal table nationally and won more individual medals than any other club. Their haul could have been even greater as there were a few very closely contested finals with the decisions going the other way. Some felt three of those finals could have gone to Birr fighters and that would have put Birr on top of the table.

But those three fights were very close and entertaining fights. It just looked as though the Birr fighterss had landed the cleaner shots and out worked our opponents but they couldn't really argue with the judges, who had their work cut out.

All in all a very good day and their training and preparation showed at the end of the day.

Birr's All Ireland Champions are: Gold - Erik Sevelis M 8-10 years 25kg; Gold - Filipe Nunes M 13-14 years 65kg+; Gold - Ross Buckley M 18+ years 75-80kg.

Silver placed medalists: Odhran Kennedy M 8-10 years 35-40kg; Ellen Mugan F9-11 years 30-35kg; David Mugan M 11-12years 40-45kg; Aoife Creamer F 13-14 years 40-45kg; Adrian O'Donoghue M13-14 years 45-50kg; Dean Brummell M18+ years 60-65kg; Marie O'Brien F 18+ years 65-70kg.

Bronze placed medalists: Ryan Kennedy M 8-10 years 25-30kg; Daniel McCann M 14 years 59-64kg; Cormac Creamer M 15-17 years 50-55kg; Sean Cooke M 18+ years 80-90kg.

Other notable fighters included Rian Smit, who fought well in his first All Irelands; Jack Maher was well in his fight but was forced to withdraw with injury; Conor Hynes was injured in round 1 and fought through the pain barrier and was very unfortunate not to get a decision against the eventual silver medalist placed fighter.

Birr had a great weekend and the coaches are very happy with how the fighters performed. Big shout out to assistant coaches Michael Hansbury and Conor O'Brien.

Next up for the k-1 kickboxing club is the WKO World Championships this coming August in England. Birr have nine fighters travelling across the sea to compete the best international fighters in the world.

This is expensive to bring the fighters overseas with transport, flights, hotels being a huge expense on fighters.

Birr have a go fund me set up and any donations no matter how little are kindly welcomed by the club and fighters.