Mayo club claims five National titles at Kickboxing event

Nine students from the Claremorris Kickboxing Club travelled to Limerick Saturday September 6 to compete alongside nearly 200 of Ireland’s up and coming athletes, in Ireland’s National Low-Kick Championships.

This was the first time the Claremorris Club has ever entered a Low-Kick Championship, low-kick meaning opponents can kick below the waist to the inside or outside of the leg.

First to take gold for Claremorris was nine year old Hnat Dmyterchuk. Hnat had two very exciting bouts to make it into the final. His final was very evenly matched with both young athletes giving it their all, with Hnat getting the nod from the judges and becoming the first ever Claremorris kickboxer to win a low/kick title for his club.  

Madalin Lazer was next to take gold. Madalin was in top form and seemed to be on a different level to his three opponents. Madalin’s speed and accuracy was just too much for anyone to handle. It came as no surprise to see Madalin’s hand raised as champion of Ireland.

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Alex Halligan was Team Claremorris's only senior fighter to compete on the day. Alex is a very experienced kickboxer, but this was his first ever time fighting in a Low-kick tournament. Alex kept the same game plan for both his bouts, keeping his distance and collecting his points with very clean and accurate head kicks. Alex took a very powerful low kick in the final round in the finals that nearly ended the fight. Alex managed to compose himself and stay out of trouble until the final bell. Another Claremorris hand raised as champion.  

Ionut Acatincai who is 16 years old entered into the super heavyweight category with Ionut’s speed and power proving too much for his first opponent winning by stoppage in the first round. In his second fight he used a sweep kick to perfection taking his opponent off his feet five times. Two wins and he was in the final. Ionut was well up on points going into the last round of the final. But with a fantastic round from his Carlow opponent Ionut let his lead slip. The fight was called a draw which meant an extra round was added. It was looking like a very fatigued Claremorris Kickboxer was going to have to settle for silver. But out of nowhere Ionut got his second wind and with deafening roars from the huge crowd he managed to pull back a lead and be crowned W.K.O. National  Champion. Ionut also received a walk-over in the full contact which he had entered meaning he was crowned double low kick champion of Ireland.

Emmanuel Apaw, Jamie Monaghan Mellett, Misha Hryhoriev, Arturas Skuodas and Mihai Jirebie also represented their Claremorris club to the highest standard. Emmanuel Apaw had two fantastic fights but had to settle for a silver and a second place on the podium. Misha Hryhoriev just missed out on a podium spot after having three very close fights.  

Coaches Phelim Halligan and Konstantin Kuzmin were very happy with the success of their students as they stated “As a small club in the west of Ireland making their debut to Low-Kick Kickboxing, we are absolutely delighted with our student’s performances”.