Our club members have been enjoying the beautiful weather recently. Some of our Juvenile athletes have had the opportunity to have their first experience on a full-size outdoor track facility when they competed with almost one thousand other young athletes in the Dublin Track and Field League at Tallaght Athletics Club, right where Rhasidat Adeleke started training just over ten years ago.

Our athletes competed in Shot Putt, Discus, Turbo Javelin, Javelin, High Jump, Long Jump and track events from 60m to 800m. Very soon we will have our own track and field facility, right here in Ballymastone.

We are very grateful to our volunteer coaches and to the parents who volunteered to help run the events.
Our secondary school aged athletes had great success in the North Leinster Secondary Schools Championships, with a total of six medals and some of them progressing to Leinster Championships. They represented their schools, Donabate Community College and Loreto College Swords. Congratulations also to Sara Dolczak who won the intermediate 400m at the Loreto Games.

Meanwhile our Under 20s, Seniors and Masters athletes have been participating in the Dublin Graded Meets. Congratulations to Xavier Hubert who won a Senior Dublin Championships Silver Medal in High Jump and Anna Gavigan who won Senior Gold in Discus.

Out on the roads and in the parks, club members have had some incredible performances in the London and Copenhagan marathons, and in the Dublin Race Series. Closer to home we had some notable Park Run milestones with Willie Cahill completing his 200th Park Run in glorious sunshine at the Donabate Park Run.

Save the Date for the LSA Peninsula Race on Sunday 16th November 2025. More details will be available shortly on our social media channels.

Every year, on the last Sunday of April, Phoenix Park transforms into a lively celebration of Japanese culture during the Experience Japan Hanami Festival. Visitors from across Ireland gather to enjoy authentic food, live music, traditional and modern dance performances, cultural workshops, art displays, and martial arts demonstrations. Families picnic on the grass, children try their hand at calligraphy and origami, and performances on the main stage bring Japan’s rich heritage to life in the heart of Dublin.
The festival takes its name and inspiration from Hanami, the Japanese tradition of admiring cherry blossoms. In Japan, sakura blossoms are more than just beautiful flowers — their brief blooming period is a powerful symbol of the fleeting nature of life. This awareness of impermanence, and the calm acceptance of it, is deeply woven into Japanese culture. The same philosophy shaped Bushido, the code of the samurai, where martial arts were not merely for combat but for cultivating discipline, resilience, and clarity of mind. These old values remain central to Japanese society even today.

That’s why martial arts demonstrations became an organic part of the Experience Japan Festival. This year’s performances featured both classical and modern disciplines — from Kashima Shinto-ryu, a traditional sword style, and Naginata, a polearm-based art, to Karate and Aikido, which adapt centuries-old principles to the modern world. Despite their differences, all these arts share the same core values: self-awareness, control, and respect.

Takemusu Aikido Society, a local club, proudly represented the Balbriggan community at this year’s festival. We train weekly at the Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre, and it was a pleasure to bring our practice to a wider audience in Phoenix Park.

Our 20-minute demonstration didn’t just display Aikido techniques — it guided the audience through the art’s structured progression, offering insight into how Aikido is studied and internalised over time. Aikido, though modern, is rooted in older forms of Jujutsu and swordsmanship, and it carries forward the samurai spirit: composure under pressure, centred movement, and profound respect for both partner and opponent.

The demonstration followed the traditional structure of Aikido studying: starting with sword-work, moving through empty-handed techniques, and concluding with staff practice. We began with solo and paired sword forms, demonstrating how Aikido movements originate from classical swordsmanship. Sword exercises form the foundation of Aikido, training balance, focus, coordination, and a refined sense of timing — all essential skills that underpin the entire art.

We then transitioned to empty-handed techniques, demonstrating how throws progress from basic to more advanced forms, including powerful hip throws. In Aikido, effectiveness doesn’t come from brute force, but from blending with an attack and redirecting it using whole-body movement. To highlight this principle, a 12-year-old boy performed clean, precise throws on a well-built adult partner — a beautiful illustration of how skill, timing, and connection outweigh size or strength.

We then moved on to staff techniques, the third pillar of Aikido practice. These exercises blend the principles learned through sword and empty-handed practice, building precision, rhythm, and responsiveness.

To conclude, our head instructor demonstrated how the same movements could be applied across all situations — empty-handed, disarming a sword, or neutralising a staff. This final sequence illustrated the universality of Aikido’s principles, regardless of weapon or context.

The demonstration ended with a dramatic staff-versus-sword defence, bringing everything full circle: from sword, to body, to staff — all connected in one seamless flow.

It was an honour to represent Balbriggan at this celebration of Japanese culture. We welcome new members of all ages and backgrounds to join us on the mats and explore the depth, clarity, and grace of Aikido for themselves.

To learn more, visit www.aiki.ie or find us on social media.

It’s not every day LSA members gather at the airport to welcome home a European Athletics medallist, but that’s just what happened on St Patrick’s Day when LSA’s Anna Gavigan arrived back in Dublin from the European Throwing Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus with a Silver medal for Under 23 Women’s Discus.

Anna was in good company and it was an added bonus for LSA to meet Olympian Nicola Tuthill who took Gold in the Women’s Under 23 Hammer, and Oisin Joyce who took Bronze in the Men’s Under 23 Javelin, at the event in Cyprus

Anna won her European Silver Medal with a massive new Personal Best throw of 53.91m. She is coached by Donabate resident Gerry Ronan. Anna joined LSA as a 10-year-old and she also coaches younger athletes at our Thursday sessions.

Our Under 20 athletes have been busy competing in the Schools Cross Country and the National Indoor Championships. As the focus moves to outdoor Track and Field, our Juvenile groups are taking advantage of the bright evenings and moving to different training venues around the peninsula.

Our club members were out on the Dublin roads at the end of March, providing valuable support for our Dublin City Half Marathon athletes, whilst other members travelled to Dundalk for a Half Marathon.

eanwhile our latest Couch to 5k group had a fun graduation. We’re very proud of their commitment and enthusiasm and looking forward to following their progress.

We will shortly announce details of the 2025 LSA Road Race, scheduled for November - follow us on social media for details.

Congratulations to all our athletes, coaches & supporters.

Socials: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/ - https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/

Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com - Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18): lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com

The Lusk 4 mile road race took place in early March and was a huge success with over 1,000 entries for the 4 mile as well as hundreds more for the Thomas Ashe Dash. Many thanks to all sponsors , club members and the local community who helped in any way.

The men’s race was won by John Travers of Donore Harriers in a time of 18:43 with Annemarie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC winning the women’s race in a new course record of 20:30. The Lusk AC winners were Conor McGuirk and Emma Przymusinska.

There was also success for the club in the recent Leinster Indoor Championships and Nationals. Club members continue to clock up the miles with Half Marathons in Lisbon and Marathons in Brescia, Italy as well as events closer to home. The 40-day 6am 5k challenge started on 5th March and is open to everyone in the community from Lusk NS each morning.

LSA members have taken to the roads in the last month with lots of our members taking part in the Lusk 4 mile Road Race and the Bohermeen Half Marathon at the start of March.

In Lusk, James Keegan was the first LSA member home in 23:42 for the 4 miles. Grace Brady was the first female in 31:30.

In County Meath the following weekend, Shane O’Farrell led the twenty seven LSA athletes home, covering the thirteen miles in 1 hour 20:18. Sinéad Kiernan was the first LSA female finisher in 1 hour 39:16.

Meanwhile, the Indoor Track and Field season continues. Our Little Athletics group had a busy day of competition at the Dublin Spraoi Games in Abbotstown. A small group of LSA Under 20 and Masters athletes competed in the Leinster Championships in Abbotstown, The following week our Masters were back in action at the National Masters Championships in Athlone.

Masters athletes Dara Carr (W55) and Enda Gavigan (M60) took double Championships titles in the 60m and 200m at both Leinster and National Championships. Xavier Hubert (M45) claimed the Leinster High Jump title, and a second place finish in that event in Athlone

Our female relay teams claimed Gold and Bronze in the Leinster Championships and went on to mark International Women’s Day with a Bronze. We also had a Mixed Masters Relay Team who claimed Bronze in Athlone.

The Cross Country season concluded with Sinéad Farrell and Reuben Capocci qualifying for the All-Ireland Championships. Huge congratulations to Sinéad who helped her team to victory in the Senior Girls event.
We are very grateful to all the coaches and parents who volunteer their time to help all the members of our club. We always welcome new members.

Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our website and social media pages!
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/
Twitter https://twitter.com/LSARunning
https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/
Adult memberships queries:
lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com
Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18):
lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com

February marked an exciting new chapter for Takemusu Aikido Society as the club moved to a more spacious and accessible location in Balbriggan. Now based in the Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre on Dublin Street, the new facility provides a larger training area with high ceilings — an essential feature for practising Aikido with traditional wooden weapons like the aiki-ken (wooden sword) and aiki-jo (wooden staff). This move allows the club to offer a more complete Aikido experience, blending empty-handed techniques (taijutsu) with weapon training, a hallmark of the Iwama-style Aikido the club follows.
The new venue not only addresses the technical needs of Aikido practice but also paves the way for future growth. Previously, the club shared space with a local Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu group, but the low ceilings restricted the range of techniques that could be safely practised. “We hope to expand our presence in Balbriggan by introducing classes for children and teenagers,” says Raman Bekarevich, the club’s head instructor who runs all club initiatives. However, the transition hasn’t been without its challenges. Since the community centre lacks mats suitable for Aikido practice, the club is actively fundraising to purchase their own mats, ensuring a safe and authentic training environment.

Behind the scenes, Raman has been supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who have played a vital role in the club’s success. Among them is Jan, the club’s newly promoted black belt and recently named Sport Volunteer of the Year for 2025. Jan’s tireless efforts, both on and off the mat, have inspired others to contribute. Other club volunteers have been very helpful in preparation for recent events and ensuring the club’s smooth operation during this period of transition. Their collective commitment reflects the spirit of community that lies at the heart of Takemusu Aikido Society.

This spirit of inclusivity and community was further demonstrated in early March when the club participated in Sport Ireland’s Women in Sports Week, a national campaign aimed at increasing the visibility of women in sport and encouraging greater participation. Recognising that women are often underrepresented in martial arts, the club offered for them three free Aikido classes during the week: two in Dublin city centre and one in Balbriggan. While many expressed interest, only a few could attend, reflecting the challenges some women face in balancing new activities with their existing commitments. Those who participated, however, had an enriching experience and were presented with small gifts sponsored by Fingal County Council as a token of appreciation. Building on this momentum, the club also took part in Balbriggan’s St. Patrick’s Parade, showcasing the art of Aikido to the local community and further strengthening their ties within the town.

Aikido, unlike many other martial arts, does not rely on physical strength. Instead, it emphasises balance, structural stability, and coordinated movement — making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities. “We want women to feel equally welcome and capable,” says Raman. “Aikido is something you can pursue throughout life, whether you’re a child, an adult, or a senior.” This philosophy of inclusivity is at the core of Takemusu Aikido Society’s ethos, and the club remains committed to fostering a welcoming environment for everyone. Plans are already underway to continue offering free classes to underrepresented groups, including women and older adults, ensuring that the art of Aikido is accessible to all.

The recent move to the Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre and the success of community initiatives like Women in Sports Week reflect Takemusu Aikido Society’s broader mission: to create an inclusive, supportive environment where people from all walks of life can explore the art of Aikido. As the club settles into its new home, the instructors and volunteers remain dedicated to expanding their reach and ensuring everyone feels welcome on the mats. With a renewed focus on community engagement and accessibility, Takemusu Aikido Society is not just teaching martial arts—it’s building a space where individuals can grow, connect, and thrive.

Whether you’re curious about Aikido, looking for a new way to stay active, or simply want to be part of a welcoming community, Takemusu Aikido Society invites you to step onto the mat. Classes in Balbriggan now take place every Saturday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Balbriggan Clubs Community Centre—an open invitation to discover the art of Aikido for yourself.

JKS Swords Karate Club is the lead JKS Dojo in Ireland, promoting, teaching and supporting the development of JKS Karate in Ireland. In February, we ran the JKS Ireland Open Championships which was attended by over 20 Karate Clubs nationally and boasting over 200 competitors and 400 category entries. A great day was had by all.

Our membership is growing but we are still looking for new members to join us (Children, Young People & Adults). Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. You can also contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

Spring is in the air and so are our students with their high-flying kicks. The students at Junsa have been practicing hard for upcoming tournaments all the while having fun. Please take look at what we are doing.

The athletics season is in full swing with plenty of events to choose from over the early months of the year. The club took a huge contingent to the Raheny 5 mile and we were well represented at the 10 mile road races in both Trim and Dungarvan. The Lusk vest was also spotted at the Seville Half Marathon and the Donadea 50k. Our Juvenile athletes have been in indoor action and training at the hub has been spiced up with the 6 week winter 3k league. Well done to all and we look forward to the brighter evenings as summer approaches.

Robyn was in fine form at the Dublin Juvenile Championships.