You are Here: Resources/Articles/All Ireland Judo Championships 2008

All Ireland Judo Championships 2008

Over 150 contestants from all over Ireland turned up in Ashbourne Community Centre for this year’s All Ireland Judo Championships. Despite the fact the due to weather & safety reasons this year’s championships had to be deferred for 3 weeks, all provinces & all Judo Associations were represented at this the largest All Irelands in more than 20 years.

For the first time in many years no one club won more than one senior title, with Gold Medals going to David Kane Dublin School of Judo U-60kg, Hubert Creaven Annaghdown U66kg, Anthony Guinan DCU U73kg, Desmond McKenna Dublin School of Judo U81kg, Scott Mayne Murakwai U90kg, David Frahill Kyouto U100kg & David Karansky Portmarnock +100kg. It was also terrific to see that not only was the volume of entry up, but also the competitive standard, with some incredible ippons.

Annaghdown, Galway, once again had an incredible day taking 9 Gold, 4 Silver & 3 Bronze medals at Minor, Junior & Senior level. Their star performer had to be Hubert Creaven who moved up to senior level & won 5 tough fights to take the Men’s U66kg title.

Murakwai, Belfast, came a close second in the overall standings with coach Scott Mayne taking the Senior Men’s U90kg title. Kristy Kee also put in a superb performance to win at both Women’s & U16 years U52kg, being the only double Gold-medallist at this years All-Irelands.

Kyouto Judo Club, Cork under the coaching of Sarah McGillacuddy & Anthony Cotter, took 2 Gold with Jana Sophie Franz in Women’s U63kg & David Frahill Men’s U100kg, while Sandyford Judo Club under the guidance of Czech-born coach Pavla Handlirova took the lightest weights in both minor boys & girls. Obviously a club to watch out for in the future.

Portmarnock Judo Club from north Dublin took 3 Gold & 2 bronze, with David Karansky winning the Mens +100kg & Bearach Gleeson U31kg & James Fisher U41kg in the Minor boys. James won the largest category of the day, having to win 7 matches to be crowned All-Ireland champion.

Ippon Judo Club, Roscommon & Tuam took 3 titles in the minor competition, with Brendan Mullen at U37kg & sisters Roisin Godwin U40kg & Fionnuala Godwin U52kg. Ciarán Weldon, Renmore won at minor U24kg, while his clubmate Abdul Momah took the U50kg title.

Maynooth Judo Club took their first All-Ireland title when Tony Vaniukevich defeated his twin Steven to win at U22kg, while their brother Richard lost the U25kg final to Glen Osborne, St. Josephs, Fairview. Cavan’s sole gold went to Edgaras Milevicius at Junior U45kg, 3 silver went to Warren Reilly U28kg, Mantis Gargutus U41kg & Avena Moran U33kg, while Joe Moore took bronze in the very competitive Men’s U666kg.

Anthony Guinan, DCU, won the men’s U73kg & Desmond McKenna, Dublin School of Judo took Gold at Men’s U81kg. NUIM took 2 bronze medals with Niall Tiernay & Ciarán Gallagher.

Black Eagle School of Judo, which operates out of several venues in the north Tipperary area, under the guidance of former Irish International, James Mulroy had a very credible first All-Irelands, with Ciarán Mulroy taking silver at Junior U45kg & Joseph O’Neill & Laurence Day winning bronze.

Download Results (Pdf 19.57 Kb)