The last few weeks have seen several local athletes, who receive support services from the Sports Institute Northern Ireland experience success:
Triathlete Aileen Morrison was fourth in the final race of the 2011 ITU World Championship Series in Yokohama, Japan on September 18th. This season’s-best result saw Aileen in third place after the swim, after which she remained in contention during the bike leg and 10k run, finishing just four seconds outside of a podium spot, and ahead of other formidable competitors including 2011 World Champion Helen Jenkins. Speaking about her result, she commented: “I'm delighted with the result, it's exciting to see all the hard work with my coaches paying off." Next up for Aileen is Huatulco World Cup in Mexico on the 9th of October.
Congratulations to Lisa Kearney, who won a Bronze medal on the 25th September at the IJF (International Judo Federation) World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, bringing her total World Cup medal tally to five. Last year Lisa, from the Yamakwai Judo Club in Belfast, became the first Irish Judo player to win an Olympic Qualifying event when she took Gold in the World Cup in Apia, Samoa. Her medal success this time came in a match which saw her win with a well drilled armlock for Ippon, barely a minute into the contest.
On October 2nd, golfer Michael Hoey claimed the biggest title of his career with victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. A sensational finish which included three birdies over the last four holes secured Michael a two-stroke win at 22-under par, and came at the end of a tense final round which saw Hoey having to make up ground after losing a three stroke overnight lead to fellow local golfer Rory McIlroy. Speaking after his victory, 31 year old Hoey noted "It's very satisfying, I played great for four days - 22 under is by far the lowest score I have ever done. At the start of the week I would have said there's no way I could beat these major winners around here."
Boxer Michael Conlon produced a fantastic comeback to qualify into the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Azerbaijan earlier this week. The Belfast flyweight had been trailing France’s Nordine Oubaali by two points after the opening round, but a stirring fight-back saw him emerge victorious 20-17. The 19 year-old now progresses past the last-16 round, and with this result he secures the Ireland team a third London 2012 Olympics qualification spot. Conlon was then beaten by European champion Andrew Selby of Wales on a 25-24 scoreline in the quarter final.
