The club were delighted to hold a 24 hour relay for Charity in mid June. Multiple members completed a 5k run from the Hub in 30 minute segments throughout the 24 hours. There were some outstanding achievements during the month. Robyn Carey set a new Junior Leinster Championship record of 2:12.86 in the 800m. At the other end of the spectrum, Peter Doyle completed the 85km Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. Congratulations to the Happy Couple, Justin and Aishling on their recent wedding. It’s time to register for our summer race, the Man O War Round. It’s a 7km route where you’ll get to experience some fabulous scenic views.

Many people reach a point in life when they realise they should be more active. The challenge is not recognising the need for exercise, but finding an activity that remains engaging year after year.

Most physical activities focus primarily on fitness. Others challenge the mind but involve little movement. Few activities develop the body, stimulate the brain and create meaningful social connections at the same time. Aikido is one of those rare exceptions.
This Japanese martial art develops balance, coordination, mobility and body awareness while simultaneously challenging practitioners to learn new movement patterns. Training takes place with partners rather than opponents, creating a supportive social environment where people help one another progress.

This combination becomes particularly valuable as we age. Maintaining physical mobility is important, but so too are mental engagement, confidence and a sense of community. Aikido brings all of these elements together in a single activity.

In many ways, learning Aikido is similar to learning a new language, except that the body becomes the instrument of communication. At first, unfamiliar movements can feel awkward and challenging. Over time, however, the body begins to organise itself more efficiently. Movements become smoother, more economical and better coordinated. Practitioners also develop greater spatial awareness, learning to understand their position in relation to other people and to move confidently and efficiently through space.

The combination of physical activity and continuous learning is particularly valuable as we age. Training challenges both body and mind, helping practitioners maintain mobility while keeping the brain actively engaged. Many students find that concentrating on movement and working with a partner provides a welcome break from everyday worries. They leave class feeling calmer, more focused and more energised than when they arrived.

The social aspect is equally important. Aikido is practised with partners, creating opportunities to meet people and build friendships. At Takemusu Aikido Society, training is followed by conversation, laughter and a strong sense of community that keeps people coming back year after year.

One of the club’s members, Eugene, joined in his fifties with no previous martial arts experience. He soon discovered a passion for training and continues to work on improving his mobility, particularly in his hips. Like many adult beginners, he found much more than exercise. He found an enjoyable challenge, a lifelong learning experience and a welcoming community.

Takemusu Aikido Society has received funding through the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme 2026. Thanks to this support, newcomers aged 50 and over can attend one free Aikido class per week throughout Jne, July and August.

No previous martial arts experience is required, and there is no need to register in advance. If becoming more active has been on the to-do list for some time, this summer may be the perfect opportunity to start. It is never too late to learn something new, improve wellbeing and discover what the body is still capable of achieving.

More information is available from Takemusu Aikido Society at www.aiki.ie or by emailing info@aiki.ie.

Swords Boxing Club is celebrating an extraordinary achievement after six of its young athletes captured Irish national titles at this year’s Junior and Schools Championships—an exceptional return from just seven entrants.

In a display of skill, determination, and depth of talent, Danielle Smithers, Rhys Kinsella, Victoria Nic An Bhaird, Sarah Lilly Byrne, Rian Branagan, and Evan Prunty each emerged victorious in their respective divisions, marking one of the most successful campaigns in the club’s history.

The near-clean sweep underscores the strength of the Swords club’s development system, with coaches and supporters praising not only the results but also the discipline and commitment shown by the fighters in the lead-up to the championships.

“To come away with six national champions from seven boxers is something special,” a club representative said. “It reflects the hard work these young athletes put in every week, as well as the dedication of our coaching team and the support from families and the local community.”

Each of the six champions demonstrated composure and technical excellence throughout the competition, navigating tough draws to reach the top of the podium with all six claiming unanimous decision victories in their final. Their success highlights Swords Boxing Club as a growing force in Irish amateur boxing, particularly at underage level.

With momentum firmly on their side, Swords Boxing Club now looks ahead to the upcoming four nations championship (this June in Scotland), national cadet championships, and European championships in Turkey, confident that this latest triumph is a sign of even greater achievements to come.

Ryan Cowzer took gold at 54kg in the Neilstown Box Cup, putting in three strong performances and finishing the final with a first-round stoppage.

Mark Quinn claimed gold at 55kg after an exciting, hard-fought final.

Senan Fox earned silver, battling his way to the final and losing a very close decision to a quality opponent.

Christopher Lawrence secured silver after a strong semi-final win, but was unable to contest the final due to family circumstances.

Ruby Skelly showed real dedication to make 48kg, and with no opponent in her division, was awarded gold.

A strong weekend overall, finishing with 3 golds and 2 silvers.

Over the past few months, LSA has enjoyed a hugely successful and exciting period, with athletes producing outstanding performances both at home and on the international stage.

At the end of March, Dara Carr delivered an incredible performance representing Ireland at the European Masters in Toruń, setting a new national record in her age category. International success continued as Sinéad Farrell earned selection to represent Ireland at the World U23 Skyrunning Championships in Croatia following her victory in the Wicklow Way Half Marathon. Sinéad returned home with a silver medal in the 5km race and a bronze medal overall across the weekend’s combined events.

Anna Gavigan kept the international success alight, winning the Ter Specke Bokaal in Amsterdam with a superb throw of 53.73m.
Closer to home, LSA athletes impressed at the Dublin Graded Meeting. Xavi Hubert claimed bronze in the Men’s Senior High Jump Championships with a season’s best of 1.60m, while Léa Hubert and Michelle Branigan delivered strong sprint performances and personal bests. The momentum continued at Dublin Graded Meet 2, where PBs came thick and fast across the squad, alongside another gold medal for Anna Gavigan in the Dublin Championship Discus.

The club also proudly hosted its first ever Women in Sports event, where Dara Carr and Anna Gavigan shared inspiring stories and highlighted the importance of encouraging young girls and women to stay involved in sport.

Meanwhile, LSA athletes took on some of the world’s biggest marathons. Alexandria Conway and Ciara Cullen completed the iconic Boston Marathon, marking their 5th marathon major. Outstanding performances also came from Alex Wood at the Connemara Half Marathon, Stephan Bueck at the Vienna City Marathon, and Darragh Doherty at the Manchester Marathon.

Congratulations to all our athletes on their incredible achievements.

We have a strong club presence heading to Cork at the end of May for the Cork City Marathon and Half Marathon! Wishing them all the very best of luck!

Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our website and social media pages!

Website
https://lambaysportsathletics.ie/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/

Adult memberships queries:
lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com

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

It was another action-packed month for the club with plenty of events for our members to take part in. Congratulations to Conor McGrath and Colm Ó Donnchadha who represented Ireland at the European masters indoors championships in Torun, Poland. The Marathon season is in full swing with Lusk colours on show at Boston, London and Connemara. Thanks to McCabe’s Pharmacy and Athletics Ireland for bringing their Fit4Life roadshow to Lusk. Well done to Colm, Conor and Nessa on their National medals and on the subject of medals, the club picked up a nice haul at the Windmill 10k when a 40 strong contingent descended on Garristown for the Dublin 10k Championships.

A big thank you to the community and participants who helped us to run another fantastic Lusk 4 mile. Well done to everyone who is taking part in this year’s 40 day 6am challenge. Our athletes have put in some amazing performances in the early months of the year. There have been some fabulous results at home and abroad. If you’re training for a race we have training plans to suit all.

The races came thick and fast during February as club members were in action in Dundalk, Trim, Murcia and Donadea as well as cross country and indoor competition. Well done to all and to all the juveniles who participated at the Dublin Spraoi Games in the NIA. It’s not too late to take part in the 40-day 5k challenge and we hope you can join us for the Lusk St Patrick’s Day parade.

Welcome back to training and a warm welcome to our new members. There is still time to sign up to our Fit4Life & Fit&Fab groups. Calling all club members age 12+ to attend our Women in Sport evening with Catherina McKiernan. The event will take place on Friday 6th February at Corduff NS. Another important date for your diary is Sunday 1st March for the ever popular Lusk 4 mile. We expect the event to sell out again this year so please register before it’s too late. Best of luck to all athletes with upcoming races and training plans.

The boxing season kicked off in September and our young fighters hit the ground running. We entered several boxers into the Dublin Leagues and came away with great success, strong performances, and invaluable experience for the year ahead.

It was a brilliant year across all disciplines. Louis O’Riordan brought home two gold medals in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, showcasing top-level skill on the mats. In MMA, Dylan Barr and Alex Coveney both claimed gold medals, proving the strength of our rising talent.

To round off the calendar year, we entered the Louth Open Championships and finished in style. Senan Fox, Carson McCarthy, and Ryan Cowzer all won gold in their categories, and Ruby Skelly getting a Silver medal, a fantastic achievement for the club.

Roll on 2026, with even more competitions in Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA. The future looks bright for Rush Boxing and Martial Arts club.

New members are always welcome, contact Paul Cowzer 0863799603
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