ANOTHER set of
identical Irish twins are to join Jedward
in representing Ireland on the international stage.
Ten-year-olds
Mark and Owen Byrne, from Walkinstown, can’t sing or dance but they have such
lightning fast hand-eye coordination that they have won a place at the World
Sport Stacking Championships in Germany next month.
The duo are 5th
class pupils at Bishop Galvin Primary School and took up the sport as part of
the PE curriculum there about a year and a half ago.
Proud Mum Tammy
said the boys are practicing so seriously for the event that she’s found them
stacking the special competition cups before breakfast. She has even had to get
a table in her garden specially adapted and grounded in cement so the
sports-mad duo can practice while also getting some fresh air.
The highly
addictive sport is part of the PE curriculum in a growing number of schools. It
involves up and down stacking specially designed sport stacking cups called
Speed Stacks in three, pre-determined competition sequences against a clock
which measures times to one hundredth of a second.
“It’s been fantastic for them and what’s
brilliant is that neither one beats the other all the time,
? Tammy said.
“They
play lots of football and are both involved in the Cubs but more than anything,
they love their Speed Stacks. We’ve 21 sets of cups in the house. It’s madness.
The snooker table is now a stacking table. The kitchen table is even a stacking
table most of the time.
?
Travel
The duo were among the fastest eight to
qualify at the Fruice Dilute All Ireland Championships in Dublin. Two teams will travel to the event near
Frankfurt on April 14 and 15. They will be up against the top 500 competitors
from 20 plus countries.
“The boys couldn’t wait for the All Ireland
this year,
? Tammy revealed.
“They went along last year more for a look than
anything but the organisers encouraged them to take part. Mark ended up on a
relay team that won a medal and they’ve been practicing non-stop since.
“Our home
hasn’t been the same since. While the twins are crazy about the sport, their
brothers Paul (9) and Sam who is 13 also stack. Between the four of them, they
won 13 medals at this year’s finals.
?
Mark said half
his class want to go to Germany with him for the finals.
“It’s fantastic
to get a chance to go to Germany,
? he thrilled.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever
represented Ireland. Having a twin is great. I’ve always got someone to race
against and we keep one another on our toes.
?
Owen claims to
be the faster of the inseparable duo.
“I practice as
much as I can every day and I am getting faster,
? he stated.
“It’s also helped
me in other sports. I play in goal in football and found stacking has made my
reaction time a lot quicker.
?
Team coach Micheal Nolan has high hopes for
the Irish team.
“The standard
at this year’s All Ireland was exceptionally high,
? he said.
“We always go to
this event hoping for medals. This year, I really think we have a great chance
in several categories.
?
Finals
The Irish team
includes fellow Southider Kevin Flanagan from Dundrum, James Carrigan and
Michelle Bergin from Kilkenny; and Adam Turner and Enya Quill from Cork. James,
Michelle and Kevin all competed in the World Championships last year but none
made the finals.