SportsnutIrish is spending day 2 in Slovenia in the Barada centre following the Irish Kickboxing team as they prepare for their European championships which begin tomorrow, 18/11. Tensions are mounting as the squad are on tenterhooks as they wait the draw parings which will be known later today, which sportsnut-irish will show on this blog as soon as it is known.
I have to say that I am very impressed with the intensity of training. Venues in this city are limited, so training times are allocated in one hour blocks. The Irish team have been allocated the Barada Centre, home of the legendary local hero Tomas Barada who was instrumental in bringing the championships to Maribor. In training, no time is wasted, everything is fight specific, and focussed. This may seem surprising the day before a big fight but this Irish management team, led by Dave Heffernan is very experienced, and know how to fine tune squads at international tournaments.
Last Training Session
There are three types of kickboxers in the Irish squad in Maribor this week. Light contact points, and one in kick-light. The difference between them is essentially in points that for each blow to the head or body that score a point, the fight is stopped, the fighters line up and then restart. Here, quickness, accuracy and speed are essential. Light contact is continuous for usually three two minute rounds, and the ability to deliver blows repeatedly is more important. In light contact, there are restrictions on how hard one can deliver blows. In kick-light, contact below the belt on the legs is permitted.
Press Release – Draw Pairings:
The draw pairings have been released, the Irish interest on Day 1, November 18th is as follows:
| Discipline | Gender | Weight | Time | Irish Fighter | Opponent | Nation |
| Points | Female | 50 KG | 12:00:00 | Bo Mangan | Ekaterina Khomova | RUS |
| L-Contact | Female | 60 KG | 12:33:00 | Aine Leonard | Sophia Greiser | GER |
| Points | Female | 55 KG | 12:56:00 | Sinéad Beasley | Evgenia Poletoya | RUS |
| Points | Female | 65 KG | 13:10:00 | Claire Brennan | Paulina Jarznik | POL |
| L-Contact | Male | 63 KG | 13:22:00 | Jamie Skilton | Damiano Tramontana | ITA |
| Points | Male | 63 KG | 14:20:00 | Simon McDonnell | Bartosz Baczynski | POL |
| Points | Male | 69 KG | 15:02:00 | Dessie Leonarad | Antonio La Prete | ITA |
| L-Contact | Male Vet | MIN 94 KG | 15:18:00 | Martin Bannon | Leszek Jobs | POL |
| L-Contact | Male Vet | PLUS 94 KG | 15:51:00 | Liam Dale | Mikael Backstrom | SWE |
| Points | Male | PLUS 94 KG | 15:58:00 | Colm O’Shaugnessy | Gunther Wohlweld | LIE |
The team has almost 30 fighters in all classes from male, female, veterans, points, light-contact, kick-light and hopes are high that medals can be brought back on the flight to Dublin this coming Sunday. After the first session, we can see at sportsnut-Irish, there is every intention to back it up with action. We await with baited breath, and will be following them every step of the way.
Ireland Kickboxing Squad Maribor 2014.
On a lighter note, sports fans all over the world have become used to games been invaded by streakers, intruders and imposters. We all accept that this can happen at big events,with big crowds. But when it starts to happen at squad training sessions, it starts becoming bizarre. The team have named the intruder “Samo”. Play the video below and see can if you can find “Samo”
That’s, all for today, we wait for the start of competition tomorrow, 19/11/2014, when all the action begins. Slan le tamaill.
Gearóid Ó Laoi.
Sportsnut-Irish 