Red Stars shine at Kickboxing championships in City West

RED Star Kickboxing in Glasnevin got more than its fair share of champs at the All Ireland Kickboxing national championships at City West on April 10.

The tournament attracted over 500 junior competitors from across the island who were all seeking the coveted title of Irish champion in Kickboxing.

Red Star Kickboxing were well represented and massively successful with no less then three fighters winning gold.

Eliza Bluma (15) from Finglas, Dayna Walsh (14) from Cabra and Robyn McDonnell (14) from Finglas were all successful in winning their respective weight categories at the championships. 

All three fighters took on the very best in light contact, continuous kickboxing from across the country, and came out on top after some tough and bruising bouts.

The three new national champs all train with well-known Kickboxing coach, Jon Mackey, at his full time gym on Nore Road in Glasnevin. After the tournament Mackey had nothing but praise for his juniors.

“These kids have been training with me since they were very young,” he said.

“Their recent wins are testament to their dedication to training and to their hard work at the gym. We started preparing for this event many weeks out and they even came training every day on their mid term.

“They ate well, knocked the junk food on the head and came to the championships super fit and well prepared. There is nothing more a coach could ask for from a bunch of juniors. I’m very happy for them.”

Mackey says this is an important year for youth development in Irish Kickboxing.

“It’s the first time in our history that we will be hosting the Cadet and Junior World Championships in Ireland,” he explained.

“The tournament will run from August 27 until September 3 at world class facilities in the City West Convention Centre.

“The icing on the cake for our new national champions is that they now have the opportunity to go forward for selection for the Kickboxing Ireland national team.

“If they meet the criteria set down by Kickboxing Ireland, the national governing body for the sport in Ireland, they have the chance to represent their country at this prestigious event

“We wish this tough bunch all the best in their preparations for the World Kickboxing Champs, and hopefully we’ll be reporting again soon on some new world kickboxing titles in the locality.”