World Combat Games Irish Team

Chris Dowling

The World combat games is the martial arts worlds Olympics, its time for the best of the best to stand and be counted and see who will truely be number 1. The Games began in Bejing in 2010 as international sporting event which promotes values of self-control, determination and technical mastery, the Martial Arts and Combat Sports integrate elements of culture, wisdom, friendship to create an elite sports competition - the Art of Combat.
Due to the great success of the first edition of SportAccord World Combat Games in 2010 in Beijing, the second edition of SportAccord World Combat Games will be organised. The event will take place from 18-26 October 2013 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Ireland has always had a strong reputation on combat sports,Steve Collins, Wayne McCullough and Katie Taylor to name but a few, well in martial arts we have athletes who have also reached the heights of these better known athletes, people with European and World titles and some with several.
The team consists of Europeand and World Champions Shauna Bannon , Mark McDermott, Des Lenoard Jnr and Robbie McMenamy. With such a competitive pool competing to qualify it was a tremendous achievment for Ireland to have four athletes qualify for this event, its even more so by the fact that these people all train like professionals and keep a day jobs too(students, gym instructor and Fire fighter) to fund their pasion and training going to numerous overseas tournaments, training in England and America over the summer months training six days a week in the gym and their clubs to become the best and represent their country .I'm sure they will do us all proud representing the country.

siochain

All won their first round fights

ants09

Shauna Bannon (first round 13 -12) (semi finals 8 - 3) (final 13 - 10) well done Shauna on gold medal
Des Leonard (first round 10 - 0) (semi finals 12-13) well done Des on bronze medal
Robbie McEnamey (first round 5-1) (semi finals (11-1) (final 12-6) well done Robbie on defending your title
Mark McDermott (first round 11-1) (semi finals 11-6) (final 7-9) well done Mark on silver medal

Finals 7:15 st petersburg time or 4:15 local time, first up Shauna, then Mark and finally Robbie hopefully all 3 fighters will win there final bout.

Chris Dowling

What a result, only four divisons and Ireland had a athlete in all four and come home with a bronze , silver and two gold. Robbie , Mark, Shauna and Dessie you have done Ireland proud , you guys need more recognition nationally for all your hard work and achievements.

tritium

Great to see Irish athletes doing well on the world stage. Just wish they got more recognition in the mainstream media

siochain

Shauna and Robbie won gold.