IABA Annual Awards – 2017 WINNERS

Ireland’s boxers, coaches, clubs, referees judges, administrators and legends were honoured at a sold-out Irish Athletic Boxing Association Annual Awards night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin on Satuday evening.

Joe Ward, the current European and World Elite gold and silver medallist, received the Best Overall Boxer Award.

Tim O’Sullivan, current President of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association, was inducted into the IABA Hall of Fame, and Stephen Connolly, IABA National Registrar, received a Lifetime Service Award.

Irish boxing, despite losing many of its experienced athletes to the professional code after Rio 2016, still claimed a staggering 29 medals in World and European competition in 2017.

At World, EU, and European tournaments at all levels from Elite to Schoolboy last season, Ireland competed in 10 championships.

Dominic O’Rourke, President of the IABA, hailed performances in international and domestic tournaments in 2017, noting how “our boxers did the nation proud in international competition and their performances augur well as we head into the qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics.”

“Our coaching staff and staff at the IABA and our clubs, club coaches and administrators contributed significantly to our success in 2017 at home and abroad.”

Michael O’Brien, President of the Cork Board, was MC this evening and paid tribute the late Jimmy Magee of RTÉ fame who had worked as IABA MC at numerous Award ceremonies in the past.

The Olympic BC in Galway took home the Best Club and Best Coaching staff awards in a remarkable double. Three of the club’s boxers, Gabriel Dossen, Patrick Donovan and Patrick Sweeney, were also honoured for major international medals.

“We’ve come from very humble beginnings and it’s the first time in our history we’ve won this award and it’s a very proud moment for us,” said Olympic BC head coach Mike Mongan.

RESULTS IN FULL

2017 Best Male Senior Elite Boxer – Dean Walsh St Ibars B.C.

2017 Best Male Senior Boxer – Jason Clancy Ballinacarrow B.C.

2017 Best Female Senior Boxer – Niamh Earley Ryston B.C.

2017 Best Overall Boxer – Joe Ward Moate B.C.

2017 Club Of The Year – Olympic Boxing Club

2017 Coaching Staff Of The Year – Olympic Boxing Club

2017 Hall Of Fame Award – Tim O’Sullivan Cork

Lifetime Achievement Award – Stephen Connolly (IABA Registrar)

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Olive Keogh Dublin

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Brendan Lowe Antrim

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Eugene Duffy Ulster

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Joe Charles Connacht

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Paddy Fitzsimons Munster

2017 Outstanding Services To Boxing – Noel Keogh Leinster

2017 Referee/Judge Award – Martin O Neill St Saviours

INTERNATIONAL MEDALISTS

2017 European 52kg Bronze Medalist – Brendan Irvine St Paul B.C.

2017 European 56kg Bronze Medalist – Kurt Walker Canal B.C.

2017 European 81kg Gold Medalist – Joe Ward Moate B.C.

2017 World 81kg Silver Medalist – Joe Ward Moate B.C.

2017 European Youth 48kg Silver Medalist – Caitlin Fryers Immaculata B.C.

2017 European Youth 75kg Bronze Medalist – Lauren Kelly St Brigids Edenderry B.C.

2017 European Junior 46kg Bronze Medalist – Ciara Brien St Davids, Naas B.C.

2017 European Junior 50kg Bronze Medalist – Catherine Blaney Navan B.C.

2017 European Junior 48kg Gold Medalist – Daina Moorehouse Enniskerry B.C.

2017 European Junior 75kg Gold Medalist – Aoibhe Carrabine Geesala B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 40kg Bronze Medalist – Brooklyn Saunders Ballybough B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 41.5kg Bronze Medalist – Jake Charles Mullingar Elite B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 44.5kg Bronze Medalist – Cahir Gormley Maydown Olympic B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 46kg Silver Medalist – Patrick Sweeney Olympic B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 50kg Silver Medalist – Patrick Donovan Olympic B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 52kg Bronze Medalist – Cain Lewis Ballymun B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 56kg Silver Medalist – Eoghan Lavin Ballyhaunis B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 66kg Bronze Medalist – John Ward Brosna B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 72kg Bronze Medalist – Sean Walsh Trojan B.C.

2017 European Schoolboy 80kg Bronze Medalist – Jordan Ward Bay City B.C.

2017 European Union 54kg Gold Medalist – Michaela Walsh Monkstown B.C.

2017 European Union 60kg Silver Medalist – Kelly Harrington St Mary’s B.C.

2017 European Union 69kg Bronze Medalist – Grainne Walsh Sparticus B.C.

2017 European Mens Junior 52kg Silver Medalist – Dean Clancy Ballinacarrow B.C.

2017 European Mens Junior 60kg Gold Medalist – Callum Walsh Riverstown B.C.

2017 European Mens Youth 64kg Bronze Medalist – Gabriel Dossen Olympic B.C.

2017 European Mens Youth 75kg Bronze Medalist – Jordan Myers Sligo City B.C.

2017 World Youth 48kg Bronze Medalist – Caitlin Fryers Immaculata B.C.

2017 World Youth 64kg Bronze Medalist – Katelynn Phelan St Brigids B.C.