Siobhan Byrne Enjoys Victory On Return To Dublin (1st December '08)
The Irish Open Championships 2008 were held on 29/30 November, 2008 at DCU, Dublin.
The Championships incorporated the prestigious Mens Epee FIE Satellite competition with 44 competitors in the hunt for the important world
ranking points on offer. Joao Coreiro from Portugal won an exciting competition, beating off challenges from top quality opposition for Hungary
and Italy. There were excellent local performances in the event with Derry - based David Burnside coming 5th. Andrew Fenwick from Derry was the
next placed Irish competitor, in 13th place.
Ireland's outstanding international fencer Siobhan Byrne won the Women's Sabre event at DCU, representing US College Ohio State. Siobhan made
a major breakthrough in 2008 by qualifying for the Beijing Olympics.
It was a great weekend for the Pembroke Club in Dublin with 2 overall victories. The Womens Foil was won by Linda Schultze who defeated Sonja
Waloszek from Germany in the final. The double for Pembroke was completed by Olga Velma who defeated Raisa Greer from Derry in the final of the
Women's Epee.
There was a home victory in the Men's Foil for Louis Arron of Dublin University Fencing Club who defeated Evgeniy Kazantsev
from Pembroke Club in the final.
The Mens Sabre which was dominated by the visiting team from USMT in Paris with Raphael Gilmas the winner,
with Stephen Concannon from UCD placed joint third.
The competition was greatly helped by the presence of specially invited FIE International Referees and weapon control personnel all of which
contributed to the efficient running of the competition.
DkIT Fencing Club hit the Headlines (13th November '08)
Congratulations to DkIT Fencing Club as they made front page news in the sports pages of the Dundalk Democrat's new 4 page supplement concentrating on
Dkit activities. See the attached PDF for a complete scan of the article.
Vinnie Duffy Sabre Competition - Report (17th September '08)
DkIT Fencing Club hosted the Vinnie Duffy Sabre Competition last weekend September 13th & 14th in Kilcurry Community Centre.
It consisted of a training day on Saturday and the competition on the Sunday. This tournament has been running for the last ten years
but was the first time DkIT has hosted it.
Who was Vinnie Duffy? Vinnie Duffy had possibly the best technique at both foil and sabre of any Irish fencer of the 1960s. He
won the Irish Open at both foil and Sabre in 1962 against opposition that included a good number from abroad. He was also selected
to represent Ireland in the 1964 Oylimpics.
There was a great turnout with members from clubs both north and south of the border in attendance. On the Saturday an intensive
training camp was held under the tuition of DkIT Coach Marcos Simpson and Ireland’s International fencer Owen McNamee. This training
session was beneficial for both beginners and current squad members with both basic and advanced techniques covered.
Then on Sunday the students got to put their new skills into practice during the annual competition. The overall winner for
Men's Sabre was Queens University Belfast student and Northern Irish fencer David Downey. Dundalk student John McCabe took third
place after a hard fought match against the overall winner. The Ladies Sabre competition also produced a medal for DkIT in the form
of Bronze for Carrie McEneaney. This was a great result as both have only been fencing for less than two years and most of the other
competitors have many years of experience.
We hope that the success of this tournament will carry forward into the coming months with the many upcoming competitions that
the fencers will be competing in.
Emma Foy - DkIT Fencing Secretary and Ladies Captain
Siobhan was beaten 15-8 by Irena Wieckowska of Poland in the first round of the individual sabre competition.
The bout lasted just a minute and 15 seconds as Wieckowska, the 30th seed, got off to an impressive start and held her
nerve to close out a confidence-boosting win.
Hopes were high that Siobhan could cause an upset on the blue piste, but she was made to pay for a poor first period
during which the fleet-footed Pole moved 8-1 ahead. However, she battled well to win five points early in the second period
and close the gap to 9-6.
However, despite a late rally and some forceful play, Siobhan could not outfox Wieckowska who deservedly took the first-to-15
contest and advanced to a meeting with Russia's Elena Netchaeva, the third seed.
Full details on RTE's website here,
with Audio clips and a link to Siobhan's profile page.
Siobhan pleased with fencing draw (7th August '08)
Siobhan has been drawn against the 30th seed, the Polish fencer Irena Weickowska.
She has fought Irena successfully in the past and is pleased with the draw. Our Team leader, Nuala McGarrity
and Siobhan's coach Vadimir Nazlymov think it gives her a good chance of making the next round.
Siobhan's bout is at 10am Beijing time (3am Irish time) on Saturday morning.
The full Women's Individual Sabre Event takes places all day Saturday the 9th of August, with the final
at 20:10 Beijing time. The full schedule can be found
here. Full details of the draw for Women's Sabre can
be found
here.
The forum has an exciting line up of national and international presenters including Packie Bonner, Technical Director of the
FAI; Dr Giles Warrington, Head Sports Physiologist to the Olympic Council of Ireland; Stephen Aboud, Coach Development Manager IRFU;
Dr Lynn Kidman, lecturer in Coaching Studies; Gerry Hussey, Psychologist to the Irish Boxing Squad; Foppe de Haan, former coach of the
Netherlands Under 21 Football Team; and Antoni Girod, Professor of Applied Psychology currently working with elite athletes.
Siobhan Byrne's Olympic event on 9th August (18th July '08)
Siobhan will be one of the first athletes in action in the Beijing Olympics. Watch out for her event which starts first
thing on the morning of 9th August, roughly at 2 a.m. Irish time.
So set your video recorders or better still get out the coffee and get ready to cheer!
Siobhan will not be taking part in the Opening Ceremony on 8th August, in order to be ready for an early start on the 9th, so
don't be surprised if you can't spot her in the parade.
:: NEW :: Check out the clip of Siobhan on RTE's OB Sport
here
Fundraiser by DKIT for Bubblegum charity (8th July '08)
Dundalk certainly got the point last weekend when DkIT Fencing Club, went fundraising for the charity "The Bubblegum Club". The
sharp-edged group called on the help of Louth Rose for the impressive fencing display at The Marshes Shopping Centre on Saturday,
which raised €1,200 for the worthy charity.
Rose Karol-Ann Keenan said: "It's an exciting way to help support such an important charity. I'm delighted to be helping
DkIT Fencing Club".
DkIT Fencing Club Manager, Marcos Simpson, said: "We are delighted that everyone at The Marshes was so generous. We'd also like to
thank all the staff at the shopping centre who were fantastic, and Owen McNamee, the Irish Fencing sabre captain, who flew in straight
from the European Championships to take part."
The Bubblegum Club is an Irish network of doctors and nurses that organise days out for children with life-threatening illnesses. It
gives these children the opportunity to meet and have fun with children in a similar situation to themselves, and live life to the
fullest.
"Ireland's Olympians", the RTE TV Series, starts Monday, June 30th (27th June '08)
"Ireland's Olympians", the RTE TV Series, starts Monday, June 30, at 7.30pm on RTE2, and runs for five weeks. The first
programme features athletes Derval O'Rourke, David Gillick, Paul Hession, Roisin McGettigan, Alastair Cragg and Fionnuala
Britton. Subsequent programmes feature boxing, cycling, hammer throwing, walking, rowing, sailing, canoeing, triathlon, badminton,
shooting, fencing and equestrian sports. Doctors, physios, physiologists, trainers and managers working with the Irish Olympic team
also feature during the series.
Siobhan Byrne qualifies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (21st June '08)
Siobhan Byrne is the first Irish fencer in the Olymipics since 1992. Siobhan is on a sports
scholarship at Ohio State University where she is a member of their highly successful fencing team.
Her trip to Beijing will be the first for an Irish fencer since the Barcelona games in 1992.
Although the world may not be
used to an Irish fencer, Byrne is no stranger to international competition. In 2002, she won bronze at the
Junior European Championships
in Conegliano, Italy and twice won silver at the Junior World Cup. In 2007, she finished 15th at the World
University Games in Bangkok,
Thailand. Not surprisingly, she is ranked as the No. 1 Irish fencer.
"I've been fortunate that all my goals have come together right now at the end of my college career," Byrne said. "I didn't expect for all
of these things to happen, but it's been exciting now that they have." Byrne, who grew up in Germany but has dual citizenship in Germany and
Ireland, will compete at the Olympic Games under the Irish flag. She has never lived there permanently, but her ties to the Emerald Isle are
strong. "My dad is Irish and most of my extended family still lives in Ireland," Byrne said. "I visit almost every year and I love it there.
It's exciting to represent them in the Olympics."
Ireland's outstanding international fencer Siobhan Byrne won the Women's Sabre event at DCU, representing US College Ohio State. Siobhan made
a major breakthrough in 2008 by qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. 
Siobhan was beaten 15-8 by Irena Wieckowska of Poland in the first round of the individual sabre competition.
Dundalk certainly got the point last weekend when DkIT Fencing Club, went fundraising for the charity "The Bubblegum Club". The
sharp-edged group called on the help of Louth Rose for the impressive fencing display at The Marshes Shopping Centre on Saturday,
which raised €1,200 for the worthy charity.
Good luck to Evgeniy Kazantsev in Mens Foil, Andy Fenwick in Mens Epee and Siobhan Byrne and Owen McNamee in Womens & Mens
Sabre in Kiev. Follow their progress here:
"Ireland's Olympians", the RTE TV Series, starts Monday, June 30, at 7.30pm on RTE2, and runs for five weeks. The first
programme features athletes Derval O'Rourke, David Gillick, Paul Hession, Roisin McGettigan, Alastair Cragg and Fionnuala
Britton. Subsequent programmes feature boxing, cycling, hammer throwing, walking, rowing, sailing, canoeing, triathlon, badminton,
shooting, fencing and equestrian sports. Doctors, physios, physiologists, trainers and managers working with the Irish Olympic team
also feature during the series.
Siobhan Byrne is the first Irish fencer in the Olymipics since 1992. Siobhan is on a sports
scholarship at Ohio State University where she is a member of their highly successful fencing team.