Olympics: Why was there no Irish competitors in the Judo

Bren1609

Can anyone tell me why Ireland had no competitors at the olympics in Beijing?

Did we ever have anyone represent Ireland in the olympics or at the world championships?

Carsinian Thau

At a guess I'd say it's because none of them qualified for it.

Pingu

Qualification can depend on points obtained in European Championships, Super A's and A level tournaments or on result in the World Championships.

6 men and 6 women qualify in each weight category from the World Championships.
9 men and 5 women qualify from each weight category out of the European system.

So it's pretty tough to qualify

Nothingcompares

Bren1609 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me why Ireland had no competitors at the olympics in Beijing?

Did we ever have anyone represent Ireland in the olympics or at the world championships?

Yes, Ciaran Ward, Kieran Foley and Alonso Henderson to name the most recent (to the best of my knowledge). Although KF and AH would have been in the 70s.

I suppose it's the same reason why there were no irish entry in the weight lifting, soccer, basketball, gymastics, tennis, table tennis, wrestling....

dlofnep

That table tennis is a competitive sport!

yapster

kieran foley competed in the 1984 Olympics, so bit more recent than the 70s!

judomick

lack of funding, and obvious incompetence shown from the IJA in setting up anything resembling a successful grass roots, competition, grading scheme,

Satan Polaroid

I've only recently started Judo, but I hear a lot of people complaining about the IJA.

Is Judo Ireland a viable alternative?

EDIT: Just did a search and see it's a controversial topic. Wasn't trying to start a row, was just curious about the whole thing!

wayne1

keith goff was at one of the Olympics as ear as i know:cool:

dlofnep

Satan Polaroid wrote: »

I've only recently started Judo, but I hear a lot of people complaining about the IJA.

Is Judo Ireland a viable alternative?

EDIT: Just did a search and see it's a controversial topic. Wasn't trying to start a row, was just curious about the whole thing!

I'd worry more about the level of instruction in your club than what association it's associated with. That's the most important thing.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I've just had a reply to a text that we've had six judoka reach the olympics, I'll get back to the thread when I get more details.

Obliviously as a judoka I'd love to see more funding from the OIC and a bigger effort made by the IJA, but also talking realistically apart from our boxers I think our Judoka would have a more realistic chance of reaching olympic finals than alot of the other athletes from other disciplines which we send over.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Here's some more info..

In 1964, when judo was admitted to the Olympics, Ireland was represented in Tokyo by one man, John Ryan, a Sligo-born black belt living in London . Ryan fought to the quarter-finales in the middleweight division, losing to Ted Boronoskis of Australia . Since then, Ireland had competed nearly every year, either in the European Championships, the World Championships, or in various international opens. In the 1972 Olympic Games, Ireland was represented by a full five-man team.

I'll try follow this up with a little more info as I get it.

.

Satan Polaroid

dlofnep wrote: »

I'd worry more about the level of instruction in your club than what association it's associated with. That's the most important thing.

I'm not worried at all about what association my club is affiliated with.

I was just curious as to the background to the split.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Satan Polaroid wrote: »

I was just curious as to the background to the split.

Splits will drive you banana's :P

Your new to Judo, where are you training and are you enjoying it?.

.

Satan Polaroid

Training with Alan Martin in DJS just outside Ashbourne.

Really enjoying it, and am developing a keen interest in the sport to the point where I'm thinking of going to Rotterdam in August.

Shift work is a real problem to continuous training though....

arybvtcw0eolkf

Satan Polaroid wrote: »

Training with Alan Martin in DJS just outside Ashbourne.

Really enjoying it, and am developing a keen interest in the sport to the point where I'm thinking of going to Rotterdam in August.

Shift work is a real problem to continuous training though....

Actually you just reminded me that I've to ring Alan today, he gets back from the UK sometime today?.

About the split, honestly and I'm not trying to steer you in one direction or another but its best left to those we've learned their judo & have nothing else to do but scratch their arses, lol..

Thats tongue in cheek of course, but I'd say spread your wings and visit as many judo clubs as you can. Regardless if your with J.I. or the IJA you should be welcomed in most clubs and you'll pick something new up from each.

I'd just say not to go asking about the split in any of the clubs or, regardless who you register with, you risk getting a negative response.

.

Satan Polaroid

I know he was away attending a Judo related course, but when he's back I'm not sure.

There's been no training for the three weeks he's been away, in which time I've managed to do feck all except eat crisps and watch tv.

But I'm sure he'll go easy on us first night back (not).

chimmychanga

Poppy Delicious Salmon wrote: »

Here's some more info..

In 1964, when judo was admitted to the Olympics, Ireland was represented in Tokyo by one man, John Ryan, a Sligo-born black belt living in London . Ryan fought to the quarter-finales in the middleweight division, losing to Ted Boronoskis of Australia . Since then, Ireland had competed nearly every year, either in the European Championships, the World Championships, or in various international opens. In the 1972 Olympic Games, Ireland was represented by a full five-man team.

I'll try follow this up with a little more info as I get it.

.

Anto Clarke Represented Ireland in the '72 Olympics. He is a legend, 4th Dan in Shotokan karate as well.

Jason Mc

Terry Watt from Derry competed at the 72 olympics


http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/wa/terry-watt-1.html


in fact there seems to be a few more names there that year

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/countries/IRL/summer/1972/

Blowback

Eugene McMahon is another Olympian.

A point to note,should you be an aspiring Olympian you must be a member of the IJA to be even cobsidered for the national squad.I think we all know what the offical line is on this one.Thanks to the common sense of club sensai we can train almost in any club.T the benefit of us all and the sport. RED TApe GONE MAD

Blowback

Eugene McManus is another Olympian.

A point to note,should you be an aspiring Olympian you must be a member of the IJA to be even cobsidered for the national squad.I think we all know what the offical line is on this one.Thanks to the common sense of club sensai we can train almost in any club.T the benefit of us all and the sport. RED TApe GONE MAD

Nothingcompares

Bronze –72kg Avril Malley

Avril Malley I believe is a woman from Tyrone who won a Bronze medal in the 1980 new york world championships representing Great Britain. it wasn't until 1992 judo was introduced as a full sport in the olympics. '88 was only demonstration for women.

Judomad

Keith Gough got bronze in the Europeans....
And i think Kieran Foley was beaten for bronze the year he fought in the Olympics..

beGood

All this information is available online:

Kieran Foley. Since he came 7th it would seem he lost the fight before the bronze final.

Keith Gough at the Olympics

Keith Gough's significant Judo results

And every Judo team sent to an Olympic Games: (If the year isn't listed there was no Judo team)

1964

1972

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

Judofirst

Kieran Foley was the highest placed Irish judo Olympian ever.
He achieved a disputed 7th place after losing to his Japanese oponent by a controversial decision, during which the Japanese broke 2 ribs.
Following the decision, the non-partisan Judo audience vented their anger & disapproval at the referees. The Japanese was then dispatched easily by Kerrith Browne, GB who took home the bronze medal.
However, Kieran was the highest placed Irish Olympian at the LA games, apart from John Treacy who won a bronze in the Marathon on the final day and as a result got the honour of carrying the Irish flag at the closing ceremony.
Ireland was last represented in Judo, at the 1996 Olympics due to the difficult qualifying conditions. They have even never managed to secure any wild card entries, with the IJA having severly pissed off the OCI President & President of the Olympic Council of the European Union, Mr. Pat Hickey. who is also a former Irish International judo competitor as well as Honorary President for life of the Irish Judo Association.
I wonder if this small matter ever could have been one of the reasons so many senior figures from the IJA formed Judo Ireland in 2004?