Welcome ALL IRELAND KETTLEBELL LIFTING FEDERATION Welcome to the AIKLF's first newsletter. This will be a monthly newsletter which will inform all AIKLF members of what is happening in the world of Irish Kettlebell Lifting. This month s edition will include a report on the recent AGM, the inclusion of Female One Arm Long Cycle (OALC) at IUKL international events, club spotlights, upcoming competition dates and national team qualifiers. 2017 is going to be a busy year with 8 competitions on the AIKLF calendar, no doubt it will be a successful one too, as clubs and members grow stronger each year. So keep the heads down, train hard and train smart, and we will all meet each other on the platforms! Celine King (Jan 2017) Inside this issue AIKLF AGM... 2 FEMALE ONE ARM LONG CYCLE... 3 REVIEW OF 2016... 3 CLUB SPOTLIGHT... 4 CLUB SPOTLIGHT CNTD... 5 COMPETTION DATES..6
AIKLF AGM JANUARY 2016 Club members and the AIKLF committee had a very successful and positive AGM in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on January 7 th. Many topics were discussed, new ranking tables, Sports Ireland recognition, updating sports policies, a new development manual and child protection. A club development manual has been put together. This is a guide to ALL clubs as to how they need to be structured in order to comply with Sport Ireland. It contains useful information on how to run a successful club and how to grow clubs. It covers everything from the structure of the club and the roles of each official, right down to how to best promote your club through social media. It also examines how communication with juveniles on social media, text or email should be conducted. There are a lot of new procedures in relation to Child Protection within the organisation. At the AGM, Kelly Fortune was welcomed as AIKLF Children s Officer. This is a non-committee role but Kelly will be working closely with the AIKLF to implement and introduce Child Protection policies. Also at the meeting Celine King was nominated as PR. This is a non -committee role but she will work with the AIKLF on promoting kettlebells and competitions at a national level. it s official female one arm long cycle is now to be included in IUKL events 2
Catherine Smyth, Cavan Kettlebell Club FEMALE ONE ARM LONG CYCLE The IUKL has approved Women's One Arm Long Cycle as an official lift in international competitions. Women may lift in amateur 16kg or professional 24kg L.C events. Women can choose to lift amateur in one lift and professional in another (Snatch or L.C). This is very exciting news for the women's Long Cycle team. The qualifiers for the team will take place at the Cup of Ireland and the National Championships. A quick review of International competition success. 2016 was a very successful year both nationally and internationally for Irish Kettlebell Athletes. Team Ireland grows in strength every year and at the World Championships, Aktobe, Kazakhstan in October a small but strong team of 12 bought home 8 golds, 2 silver and a bronze medal. It saw us win a grand total of 32 medals at the 2016 European Championships in Gdynia, Poland and Third place overall for the Irish Veteran Team. Of course no organisation can improve and climb the tables without a strong cohort of junior athletes and Ireland as a competitive kettlebell country certainly has that. The junior team has gone from strength to strength. This can be seen at national events where the competition for a place on Team Ireland is fierce. In 2016 this paid off with the Junior athletes successes at Daugavpils, Latvia. 23rd of July. In 2017 the competition will be upped! As the AIKLF will be hosting the European Youth Championships in Wexford on the 22nd and As they say the proof is in the pudding and at the upcoming Cup of Ireland out of the 160 competitors registered, 40% are juniors. The battles will be great on the platforms at the end of February. So good luck to all taking part. 2017 will be our strongest yet!
CLUB SPOTLIGHT : GALWAY KETTLEBELL CLUB A two minute interview with Galway Kettlebell Clubs coach Sarah Smith. Sarah has been a driving force behind kettlebell sport in the West of Ireland and is a successful competitor nationally and internationally. WHERE IS CLUB AND WHAT IS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION? Galway City, galwaykettlebellclub@gmail.com HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK DOES THE CLUB TRAIN? Twice and at home plans x 3 WHAT IS THE FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN THINKING OF BEGIN- NER GRIVEKS? Be patient. Be thorough in technique and focus on one lift at a time. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED GALWAY KETTLE- BELL CLUB? Not to expect fast results and to believe in the process. WHAT IS THE FAVOURITE LIFT OF YOUR CLUB OR IS IT AN ALL ROUNDER? Definitely Long Cycle, need I say more?ha Ha Ha.
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR CLUB TO KEEP GOING? The continuous development of members and the hunger to meet new targets and PB s, whether the goal is to make the team, hit rank, achieve a time or hit a PB. AS A CLUB WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT G.S? The growth it brings to lifters and the support and encouragement from each other is fantastic. AS A CLUB WHAT IS THE CHALLENGING THING ABOUT G.S? When dealing with life s ups and downs, which can stall training session for e.g. illness/injuries/work etc. WHAT IS GALWAY S KETTLEBELL CLUB PERSONAL MANTRA? LOVE TO LIFT WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CLUB? European Championships 2016; Sarah Smith Gold for 16kg snatch at the (-63kg Veterans 35 39 category; Ella Stanton; bronze 16kg Snatch 35 39 68kg; Didier Bouic, Gold, 24 kg Long Cycle 78kg open category IUKL World Championships, Dublin 2015; Didier Bouic, Silver for Long Cycle 24kg and having 4 lifters in the AIKLF Irish team competing at the 2015 World Championships; Sarah Smith 16kg snatch; Roisin Ridge 16kg snatch; Michelle Sweeny 16kg snatch and Didier Bouic 24kg Long Cycle. THANK YOU SARAH SMITH FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF GALWAY KETTLEBELL CLUB IN THE FUTURE!
QUALIFYING FOR TEAM IRELAND In order to qualify for a place on Team Ireland, to represent your club and the AIKLF internationally, you must compete at the two national 10 minute competitions. The Cup of Ireland in February and The National Championships in August. Qualifying in February at the Cup of Ireland guarantees your place at the IUKL European Championships in May, however, if you cannot compete in the National Championships in August and your score is beaten you will loose your place and a chance to compete at the IUKL World Championships in November. AIKLF COMPETITION CALENDAR 2017 Cup of Ireland and European Championships qualifier Date : Feb 25 th - 26 th Host Club : Wexford KB Club AIKLF 7min comp Date : April 15 th Host Club : TBA IUKL European Championships Date : May 11 th -15th Location : Daugavpils, Latvia Cup of Scandinavia 2017 17 th June Location: Grønnegade 1, Zealand, Denmark Open Youth European Championships & Adult Open European Cup & Grand Prix Date : July 20 th -24th Location : Wexford, Ireland Team Ireland Dublin 2015 National Championships (Qualifier for World Championships) Date : Aug 19 th /20 th Host Club : TBA AIKLF 5min Comp Date : Oct 14 th Host Club : Rebels KB Club IUKL World Championships Date : Nov 15th-19th Location : Seoul, South Korea