HEART TRANSPLANT GAMES: A team of 38 Irish will compete in the World Heart Transplant Games in Appeldoorn the Netherlands from June 26. The Irish will
compete in golf, cycling, swimming, table tennis, badminton, boules and track and field along with 300 participants from 22 European nations.
Among them is Seamus Eager from Co Wicklow whose sports are golf and table tennis. Since his heart transplant three years ago, Eager, a ex-footballer with Shamrock Rovers, has picked up medals at both European and world level. But winning medals is not what it’s all about. “We go over there as winners already. We’ve had our transplant, we’re in good health, we’ve got a second chance. If we win medals it’s very much a bonus,” says Eager.
* Request an Organ Donor Card from or ask your local pharmacy or medicalcentre.
BADMINTON: Two pre-London 2012 training camps for players from several developing badminton nations will take place in Ireland next month.
From July 9, players from several developing badminton nations will train with Irish Olympian Chloe Magee and eight high performance players at the Marino Institute of Education in Dublin. Former Korean and British national coach Lee Jae Bok and Irish national coach Dan Magee will supervise.
On July 21, while the Irish Olympians head to the Olympic Council of Ireland’s preparation camp in London, five South African Olympians will train with the Ulster provincial squad in Lisburn.
SNOOKER: Brendan O’Donoghue of New Institute finished runner-up at the European Snooker Championship in Latvia. O’Donoghue lost 3-7 in the final to Scottish potting machine Scott Donaldson who had earlier beaten Irish No 1 Rodney Goggins from Wexford 6-2 in the semi-finals. In a good tournament for the Irish, Greg Casey from Cork made the last 16, while both Frank Sarsfield and Anthony Bonnar progressed to the quarter-finals of the masters’ tournament.
PARKS TENNIS: With the children off school and Wimbledon around the corner, what better time to sign up for the annual Shreddies Summer Parks Tennis programme? Up to 25,000 boys and girls aged between six and l7 years are expected to turn out at 160 venues around the country from July 1-27. Fee is €35 for four weeks of training, with all equipment provided.
Registration at all Dublin venues starts on Friday June 29 (2-4pm). For a full list of venues, see www.parkstennis.com or call Kay Lonergan at 01-8338711.
HOCKEY: Already underway at here Rock Rovers in Rathfarnham is the annual Women’s Summer Social Hockey League, with club and non-club members all welcome. Indeed with the emphais on having fun whiel leanring the skills and keeping fit, the leagiue is an aideal way of getting into the sport. Mathces will continue every Tuesday evening until July 24 (7.30-9.30pm). Queries to socialhockey@hockey.ie, or call 716 3265.
VOLLEYBALL: A well-prepared Irish women’s volleyball team is in Malta this weekend for the 2013 European Championship Qualifiers. The team, captained by Claire Treacy of Naas Cobras and coached by Mark Delahunty, prepared for the tournament by playing friendly matches against Premier League champions Aer Lingus and the Premier League All-Stars. After facing Malta this morning, they play their final match against Scotland tomorrow (Sun).
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