Tipperary Host First Ever ISPCC Charity Judo Tournament in Ireland
Black Eagle Academy of Judo, Nenagh, Co Tipperary was proud to host The Tipperary Open ISPCC Charity Judo Tournament.
This was the first charity judo tournament to be held in Ireland and as a child focused sport we were delighted to support the ISPCC in their efforts to help our most vulnerable children 24/7.
The tournament was staged at the Nenagh Olympic Athletic indoor Arena, Tyone, Nenagh, Co Tipperary on the 7th June 2009 .
The aim of the tournament was to help increase awareness through our network of clubs, schools and governing body of the pain and suffering of the thousands of children who contact the ISPCC every year and try to raise as much money as possible to help fund the fantastic support services the ISPCC provide such as, Childline, Teen focus, Child focus and Leanbh. The Event raised on amazing €2,111.00 for the ISPCC and brought together judo players from all corners of Ireland to this historic competition.
Over 40 students from Black Eagle Judo clubs Ardcroney, Nenagh and Portroe represented Nenagh/Tipperary on the day with fantastic results. As the Host club we were very encouraged by our impressive medal tally of 24, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 13 Bronze. The medals winners were, Gold: Siofra Buckley, Niamh Mulroy and Padraic Keane. Silver: Adam Collison, Sarah Hassett, Kyle Morkin, Aoife Mulroy, Philip Kroupa, Ciaran Mulroy, Becky Hill and Rosie Day. Bronze: Maria Moloney, Leah Heffernan, Christopher Fitzgerald, Daron Creamer, Daniel Heffernan, Joey O’Neill, Sam Kroupa, Emma Sheedy, Laurence Day, Angela O’Neill, Aisling Sheedy, Roisin Taplin and Ray Smit.
The ISPCC
Because they can’t speak out, we do.
For over 100 years, ISPCC has been Ireland’s leading independent charity advocating for the rights, well being & protection of children. Their mission is to end cruelty & injustice to children in all forms ensuring every child is given the opportunity to experience love, happiness & equal opportunity. Despite Ireland’s great progress, the moral obligation to protect fully our most vulnerable citizens remains unfulfilled. This is the gap ISPCC aims to fill each & every day with the public’s generous support.
For thousands of vulnerable children at risk who contact the ISPCC every year, we’re their only hope. Their small, frightened voices tell of hurt and heartbreak no child should have to endure, from relentless bullying at school to long-term neglect by a parent to anxiety and depression. They have no one to turn to, no one to listen to them. That’s why we’re here.
The ISPCC is almost entirely self funding and we are currently only able to respond to half of the children who need our services. A frustrating statistic we refuse to accept. We are passionate about expanding our teen mentoring programme so that we can help girls like Claire, who at 13, found herself looking after two younger siblings because her parents – both alcoholics – were unable to cope. Crushed by adult responsibilities beyond her years, Claire had no one to turn to. Until a meeting with an ISPCC mentor showed her that someone did care. A big part of the role of a teen mentor is to help a young person to become engaged in positive and healthy activities from Judo to book clubs.
ISPCC – always there for children
The Sport:
Judo is a tremendous and dynamic Olympic sport that demands both physical prowess and great mental discipline. From a standing position, it involves techniques that allow you to lift and throw your opponents onto their backs. On the ground, it includes techniques that allow you to pin your opponents down to the ground. Unlike karate, judo does not involve kicking, punching, or striking techniques of any kind. Instead, judo simply involves two individuals who, by gripping the judo uniform, use the forces of balance, power, and movement to attempt to subdue each other.
The word judo consists of two Japanese characters, ju, which means “gentle”, and do, which means “the way”. Judo, therefore, literally means the way of gentleness. Although the gentleness may not be immediately apparent to newcomers who see bodies flying through the air and people pinned to the ground. Judo is much more than the mere learning and application of martial art techniques, in its totality; it is a wonderful system of physical, intellectual, and moral education. Judo has its own culture, systems, heritage, customs, and traditions. Moreover, the principles of gentleness are carried from the practice mats and into most students’ lives, in their interactions with their friends, family, work colleagues, and even strangers. Judo gives its students a code of ethics, a way of living, and a way of being.
Recent International Success:
Ireland has been extremely successful on the international circuit over the past few years with our most recent international gold medal being won by Ian Byrne of Coolmine Judo Club, Dublin in the Agglorex International Trophy, Lommel, Belgium on the 12th April 2009. Other international wins include medal wins for Matthew Rooney at the Junior World Cup in Portugal 21st March 2009, also this year an eleven strong squad travelled to Cardiff for the 2009 Cadet & Junior Welsh International Open, taking home a total of 8 international medals.
The Irish Masters Squad has taken more than their fair share of medals over the past two years.
The World Masters Championships 2007 in Brazil saw the best ever performance from an Irish team when Ireland won six medals from nine competitors. One gold, one silver and four bronze.
The European Championships 2007 Germany – silver medal, The 2008 Hungarian Open – gold and silver medals, The 2008 French Open – two gold & one silver medal, The 2008 High Wycombe Masters England – Gold medal, The 2008 World Championships Brussels Belgium – two silver & one bronze medal, The 2008 European championships Prague – Bronze medal and The 2009 Hungarian Open one gold and one silver medals. As you can see Judo is representing Ireland at the highest international level and winning!
Anyone interesting in learning more about judo please contact us on 086 061 2544 or visit our website www.blackeaglejudo.com
