Latest News
2010 Club Training Camp in Largs
Our SIXTH annual training camp
in Largs was held from July 5th-9th. Twenty
gymnasts and all of the coaching team along with a small team from Olympian GC
enjoyed a great week's training in the gym. There as always to assist were our
guest coaches Mr T and Pat McGrath. Every gymnast came back having learned
at least one new skill. Despite the bad weather outside the gym, in between
evening rain showers the boys enjoyed trips to Nardini's for ice-cream and to
the town for some
bowling. Everyone came back tired and happy.
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2010 Level 5-8 National
Championships
The
Level 5-8National Championships were held in Salto GC in May 2010. This is the
national championships for Ireland's advanced gymnasts and includes the Minor
(Level 6), Junior (Level 7) and Senior (Level 8) National Championships. Phoenix
GC had 11 gymnasts taking part, many of whom had moved up two or more
levels since last year. Travelling with them as coaches were Wayne, German and
Illya. All the boys acquitted themselves well and produced several personal best
scores on the apparatus they competed on. Geoff Rellis capped off a good day by
taking silver in the National Senior championships. Well done all!
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2010 Level 2-4 National
Championships
The
Level 2-4 National Championships were held in Phoenix GC in May 2010. This was
the largest national championships in several years with almost 140 boys taking
part of whom over twenty were from Phoenix GC. Congratulations to our six medal
winners - Rod McAuliffe - level 2 Under 7; Cormac McGrory – Bronze, Level 3
Under 12; Daniel Shaffrey – Silver, Level 3 Over 12; Kevin Redhan –
Bronze;, Level 3 Over 12, Darren Halpenny – Silver, Level 4 Under 12 and Seamus
Rossingol – Silver Level 4, Over 12.
Thanks to all who helped make this, now annual event, a great success, including our judges Andrew and Hugo; coaches Kirsten, Rory, German, Conor and Ciarán; Scorekeepers Shane, David and Leo; floor managers; equipment crew etc. etc.
A big thanks also to our fund-raising committee who raised some valuable funds through their tuck-shop. The funds will go towards re covering the mats.
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2010 Huelva Cup, Spain
The same weekend as the Level 2-4 National Championships Luke
Coward, Robert Farrington and coach Wayne Healy managed to dodge the volcanic
ash from Iceland to compete in the 2010 Huelva Cup in Spain. This is an international
competition with competitors from Spain, Portugal, Germany, UK
and Ireland and is held in the town where Columbus set sail for America. Amongst the youngest in the competition, both boys used the competition to try new routines and performed very well.
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2010
European Championships
Geoff
Rellis, currently training in Tolworth GC in the UK, was part of the Irish team
at European Championships in Birmingham. The team lost two members prior to the
start of the event one to injury, the other, Rohan Sebastian, stranded in the
USA due to the ash from the Icelandic Volcano. Geoff competed on Floor and
Parallel Bars where in turned in two clean performances scoring 13.1 on
floor.
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Microsoft
Community Affairs Grant
As
part of Microsoft's 25 years in Ireland celebrations, they awarded grants to 25
voluntary organisations within the local community which had Microsoft staff
involvement. Phoenix GC applied for one of the grants and our application was
successful. The money will be put to use to help with equipment
maintenance and repair. We would like to thank Microsoft for their valued
support.
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2010
Appenzeller Shield
The
Fifth annual Appenzeller Shield was hosted in Phoenix GC on March 26th
2010. This was the biggest competition to date with almost 50 gymnasts taking part
from five clubs within the South Dublin Region. Phoenix had gymnasts competing
at level 2,3,4 & 5. Cormac McGrory won the Appenzeller Shield - making it five
in a row for Phoenix GC. Additionally the club won 4 Gold, 8 Silver and 5 Bronze
across the various levels and age groups. For our Level two boys it was their
first time to compete and they won SIX of our overall medal haul!. Our Celtic
Cup boys also did an excellent display at the end. It was a milestone day for
Hugo Kieran who judged his first competition Congratulations to all our
medal winners and thanks to all who helped make the competition happen!!
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2010
Celtic Cup
The
2010 Celtic cup was held in Cardiff in February. Four gymnasts from Phoenix GC
were on the Irish Team, making up almost half of the men's team. After several
weeks of hard work, the boys all did the club proud. At under 13 Robert Farrington, competing in his
second Celtic cup, was the best of the Irish gymnasts competing on all six
apparatus and performing some excellent routines particularly on parallel bars.
David Ryan competing in his first international did four pieces and had
Ireland's top score on floor. Shane Lyndon also in his first international,
competed on three pieces, top scoring on vault. At Under 17 Luke Coward competed
on three pieces which included a top-notch vault. Congratulations to the four
boys and to Wayne who travelled with them as Irish coach.
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2010
Celtic Cup & Europeans Championships Trials
The final Celtic Cup trials were held in Belfast in January 2010. Six of our
gymnasts who had previously been shortlisted the Celtic Cup panel took part with four making the final team.
Congratulations to Robert Farrington, David Ryan, and Shane Lyndon who are on the
Irish Under 13 team and to Luke Coward who was selected on the Irish Under 17
team. John Binchy and Leo Kurevlev also performed well and were unlucky not to
make the Under 13 team this year but both have put down firm markers for the 2011 team.
Celtic Cup will be held in Cardiff in February. In addition to the four boys, Wayne
Healy will be travelling as Irish coach.
The preliminary trial for the 2010 European Championships were also conducted alongside the Celtic Cup trial. Geoff Rellis, who is currently training in the UK, was selected on a five man senior squad. Final team selection for Europeans will take place in March.
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Gymnast Of The Year
Awards
Our Annual award were during our Christmas Party. This
year more than ever the coaches had some difficult decisions to make.
Robert Farrington won The Gymnast of the Year Award. Robert made his international debut earlier this year at Celtic Cup and turned
in an excellent performance. He won a silver medal at the 2009 Salto
Open December underlying his outstanding progress this year. Robert also been
selected on the 2010 Celtic Cup squad.
Shane Lyndon won the Elite Squad Award. In 2009 he won the Appenzeller Shield and won
gold at Level 3 Under12 National Championships. He was recently selected on the 2010 Celtic Cup
squad. Illya Babkin won the Junior Squad Award,
aged 8 he took silver at level 4 Under 12 at this year's Appenzeller Shield
Competition. Mathew Jennings won the Minor Squad Award
a medallist at Level 2 in the Appenzeller Shield Competition he narrowly missed out on a medal
at National Championships. Simon Mullen won our Best
Beginner Award for the most improved of the gymnasts who joined during
2009.
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2009 Salto Open
Congratulations
to all our medal winners at the Salto Open held in Belfast in December 2009. Ten
gymnasts took part with the boys winning SIX medals. It gave our Level 6 and 7
gymnasts a chance to test their routines in advance of the final Celtic Cup trial in
January 2010. At Level 7 Luke Coward won Silver. At Level 6, a great performance
by Robert saw him win Silver in what was his first competition competing
voluntary routines on all six pieces of apparatus. David and Shane, both competing
voluntaries for the first time, went clean on the three pieces they competed. At
Level 4 James Jennings won bronze at Under 10. At Level 3 Seamus Rossingol came
first at Under 12 with Kevin MacEnri and Dominic Henry-Hayes taking first and
second respectively at Under 10. Well done all!! A big thanks to Wayne, Rory and
Alison Halpenny (Portlaoise) who travelled as coaches.
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2010 Preliminary Celtic Cup Trials
The
2010 Celtic Cup will be held in Wales in February. Preliminary
Trials for the Irish Celtic Cup squad were held in Salto GC in November 2009.
Eight gymnasts from the club attended. All acquitted themselves well with SIX
being invited to take part in the final Celtic Cup trial in January 2010.
Congratulations to Robert, David, John, Shane and Leo who were selected on the
Under 13 squad and to Luke who was selected on the Under 17 squad. Jani and Adam
whilst not making this year's squad showed that they are in line to make the
squad next year. A busy few weeks lie ahead for the boys as they prepare for the
final trial and possible Irish Team selection.
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2009 Northern European Championships
Geoff
Rellis, who is currently training in the UK, represented Ireland at the North
European Championships in Cardiff in November 2009. Owing to new FIG age
restrictions Geoff was the only person on Ireland's men's team. A good
performance by Geoff saw him qualify for floor final. Well done Geoff!!
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Coaching changes for the 2009/2010 Season
Rory
Caffrey has recently joined our coaching team and will focus on our younger
junior gymnasts. He is a veteran of several internationals including Junior
Europeans, North Europeans and Celtic Cup and was our club gymnast of the year
for 2008. Rory will be a great addition to the coaching team.
Unfortunately due to work and music commitments Adam Smith's involvement this year has
been seriously curtailed. Adam was part of our original coaching team when we
set-up in 2004. Many of the gymnasts Adam coached won medals at regional
and national level and some went on to compete at NDPs in the UK, a competition
which Adam attended as Irish Coach in 2007. We would like to thank Adam for all
his time and effort over the last five years and hopefully he will be able
to resume coaching with us in the near future. Also, due to college commitments Ciara
Palmer is unable to coach this year. We thank her for her commitment over the last
couple of years and wish her the best with her studies.
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Phoenix GC adopts Irish Gymnastics Code of Ethics
Phoenix
GC has adopted the new Irish Gymnastics Code of Ethics. The code is based on and
fully compliant with the Irish Sports Council's "Code of Ethics and Good
practice for Children and Vulnerable Adults in Sport". The Irish
Gymnastics Code of Ethics document can be down-loaded
here. Over the last few months our child protection team (Ciara Winkelman
and Rachel Hussey), Carmel Healy, Tom Dillon and most of our coaches have all attended training in
this area. Arising out of the code adoption there will be some minor policy and
process changes that may impact parents and gymnasts. We will keep parents
advised of any such changes.
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New addition to Judging Team
Hugo
Kieran, a former national squad member who represented Ireland at Celtic Cup,
has decided that he would like to sit at the other side of the judging table. In
August 2009 he attended a judging course in Belfast and successfully obtained
his Club Judging award. This brings our number of judges to four.
Congratulations Hugo!