Elites return to Training ahead of European Championships
By IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill
Team Ireland returns to training at the National Stadium tomorrow to complete their preparations for next month’s European Elite Men’s Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria.
The European squad, with the exception of Joe Ward who was in action in APB, completed a training camp with the host nation, Estonia, Italy, Morocco and Norway at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Friday last.
“It was an excellent training camp in Sheffield with a very good variety of opposition,” said Irish head coach Billy Walsh. “The squad now will complete their preparations for the European Championships at home.”
Team Ireland leave for Bulgaria on August 5th.
Three members of the team, Joe Ward, Michael Conlan and Darren O’Neill, have claimed one gold and two silver medals at European Elite level in the last five years.
The 2015 European Elite Championships in Samokov, the 41st edition of the tournament since 1925, is acting as a qualifier for the 2015 AIBA World Men’s Elite Championships in Doha, Qatar in October.
The top six boxers in each weight class in Samokov – the semi-finalists and quarter-finalists that lose to the eventual gold and silver medal winners – will qualify for Doha.
Michael O’Reilly, Brendan Irvine and Sean McComb have already booked tickets for Doha, courtesy of winning gold, silver and bronze at the recent European Games.
European Elite Men’s Championships August 5th/15th
52kg Myles Casey (St Francis)
56kg Michael Conlan (St John Bosco)
64kg Dean Walsh (St Joesphs/St Ibars)
69kg Adam Nolan (Bray)
81kg Joe Ward (APB)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell
Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zauri Antia and Eddie Bolger
Physiotherapist: Julianne Ryan
Sports Psychologist: Gerry Hussey
Performance Analyst: Alan Swanton
Cuts Man: Dr John Haughey