Irish Speed Skating National Team Expands Into New Territory

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The speed skating programme of the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) continues to develop with the addition of an athlete to the national team in a new discipline.

The ISAI Board of Directors has selected the following members for the Irish Speed Skating National Team to compete in International Skating Union (ISU) events for the 2017/2018 season:

Speed Skating

Tara Donoghue

Short Track Speed Skating

Ryan McAnuff

Sean McAnuff

Tara Donoghue makes history by becoming the first long track speed skater to be named to the Irish National Team. She was bitten by the speed skating bug in the Netherlands where she grew up. Her skating idol is American Olympic gold medallist Shani Davis.

Ryan McAnuff became the first Irish skater to compete at the European and World Short Track Speed Skating Championships last season. He finished 36th overall at the latter event.

Sean McAnuff flew the flag for Ireland for the first time at the World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships where he came 36th overall. He was recently awarded an ISU Scholarship.

Ryan McAnuff Bags First International Short Track Title For Ireland

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Just a week after his debut at the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Ryan McAnuff was back racing along with his brother Sean McAnuff at the ST AmCup 3 in Midland, Michigan.

Both McAnuffs raced four distances this Saint Patrick’s weekend – twice at 500 metres and once each at 1000 metres and 1500 metres. Ryan stormed to victory in both 500 metre races, came second in the 1000 metres and sixth in the 1500 metres. A combined score 1505 points gave him and Ireland an historic first ever victory at a speed skating event.

Sean also acquitted himself well with a highlight being a ninth place finish in Race 1 of the 500 metres. He earned a total score of 217.5 for 13th place overall.

Irish Speed Skating Steps On To World Stage

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In another first for Irish speed skating, Ryan McAnuff will make his and Ireland’s debut at the KPN ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands this weekend.

The racing for McAnuff begins tomorrow at the Ahoy Arena in the Dutch city. The gruelling preliminary rounds tomorrow will initially see him compete over 500, 1,000 and 1,500 metre distances against skaters from across the globe. The competition continues until Sunday.

“I am thrilled to be representing Ireland again at the pinnacle of our sport,” McAnuff said. “I am honoured to be putting our country on the speed skating map.”

You can follow McAnuff’s progress on the official results page.

Irish Speed Skaters At Munich Open

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Kevin Hegarty and Laura Hegarty skated this weekend at the 10th Munich Open for short track speed skating. The event was held 4-5 March inside the Munich Olympic Ice Stadium.

Laura skated in the Girls Junior E category and Kevin skated in the Boys Junior C category. Both of them skated over two distances each with a total of nine races over the two days.

On the first day, Laura skated in the 500m heats with a personal best of 1:09.286 and improved it to 1:08.353 in winning her finals group to come 18th overall in a category of 24 participants. Kevin skated in the heats and finals of the 777m and came 9th overall with a personal best time of 1:41.322. At the end of the day, Laura skated in the 333m heats.

The second day of competition saw Laura winning her 333m semi-final and ended in the finals with an improved overall position of 13th and a new personal best time of 43.619 seconds. Kevin skated in the 500m heats and finals to finish 9th with a personal best of 1:04.193.

Both Kevin and Laura were participants in the ISAI speed skating camp in January and used what they learned there to great effect in Munich.

Irish Speed Skating In First Appearance At World Juniors

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Sean McAnuff (19) becomes the first skater to represent Ireland at the World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships this weekend in Innsbruck, Austria.

McAnuff will compete against 116 athletes from 35 countries across 500 metre, 1,000 metre and 1,500 metre distances in the Tyrolean city that hosted the 1964 and 1974 Winter Olympic Games. The event has been held annually since 1994 and features the best young short track speed skaters in the world.

“I am excited to be making my ISU Championship debut and to be the first skater from Ireland to compete at World Juniors is a huge honour,” McAnuff said.

The ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships begins Friday, 27 January and runs until Sunday, 29 January.

The competition will be streamed live on the ISU YouTube Channel.

Alternatively, keep up with the live results here.

Irish Speed Skater Makes European Championship Debut

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For the first time in the history of the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Ireland will be represented by an athlete when the 2017 edition kicks off in Turin, Italy later this week.

Ryan McAnuff (22) will be flying the flag for Ireland inside the iconic Palavela arena, 2006 Winter Olympics venue for short track and figure skating events, and will race against competitors from 25 other European countries. Medals will be up for grabs over the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 metre distances.

“I am so honoured to be the first person to represent Ireland at an ISU speed skating championship,” McAnuff said. “This competition will give me valuable experience racing against the best short trackers in Europe.”

The ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championships begins Friday, 13 January and runs until Sunday, 15 January.

Live streaming on the ISU Skating Channel commences on Friday 13 January at 11:45, here.

Alternatively, keep up with the live results here.