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EIGHT MEDALS AND A SIXTH GOLD TITLE IN A ROW FOR COBH’S VETERAN CHARLIE RYAN

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Transplant Team Ireland got off to a great start in the first day of week-long competition at the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships today (Monday) in Sardinia winning 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 5 Bronze. The Irish team spent their first full day yesterday (Sunday) acclimatising to the hot weather and familiarising themselves with their beautiful surroundings on the picturesque coastal host city of Cagliari.

Today members of the Irish team showed their mettle by securing 2 Gold medals in the Darts (singles) events and its Darts Triples team came third winning three Bronze at the Hotel Setar. At another venue, the City Track in Cagliari, other Irish team members were rewarded for their 5km races with a Silver medal as well as 2 Bronze medals. Later in the day the 23-strong Irish team proudly marched amongst 25 nations in a parade at the Games Opening Ceremony held in Santoru, Athletic Stadium.

The Irish fared exceptionally well in the Darts singles competition where two Gold medals were seized by veteran to the team Charlie Ryan from Cobh and newcomer to the Irish team Verina Borissova, a 47 year old Bulgarian native who lives in Tallaght, Dublin. Liver transplant recipient Charlie Ryan who is in his seventies defended and won his six in a row Champion Darts title having won Gold at every biennial European games since 2008. Dubliners Paul Prendergast from Santry and Harry Ward (the Team captain from Baldoyle) as well as Clare woman Marie O’Connor competed well together in the Darts Triples event before being beaten by a Hungarian team in the semi-finals and they each received a bronze medal for coming in third place.

Despite the early morning heat up in the late 20s, Transplant Team Ireland put in great performances in their 5KM races, with the first medal for the team, a Silver, won by Nenagh woman Sheila Gregan. Her teammate Kilkenny native Emma O’Sullivan (living in Glin, Limerick) was awarded a Bronze medal and her personal best time in the same race in a younger age category while Kieran Murray from Ramelton, Donegal was also rewarded for his strong performance with a Bronze medal in his 5km race in the 30-39 year age category.

Triathlete Sheila Gregan, a kidney transplant recipient, delighted with her win in the 40-49 year age category said, ”I’m absolutely thrilled to have won a Silver medal. The fine weather at home has helped with the acclimatisation for here but it was very hot. Once I started the race I focused so I didn’t think of the heat, just the finish line. I want to thank the Nenagh Tri Club and my colleague Eileen Carroll as she’s been a great motivator and support in the lead up. Of course I want to echo the sentiments of the whole team in saying that we’re here because of our donor and donor family. I wouldn’t be here otherwise and I’m extremely grateful. My sisters, Liz and Mary, are here supporting me and it was great to have them at the sideline and to witness me winning Silver. I am really looking forward to taking part in Swimming tomorrow and in the 20km Cycling event on Wednesday.”

Stephen Byrne from Tralee was placed fourth in the 50-59 years age category narrowly missing out on a Bronze by just three seconds and achieving his personal best. The kidney transplant recipient said, “I have to thank my donor, I wouldn’t be here without them. A big thanks to my club in Tralee, Born to Run and Tralee Park Run”.

Kieran Murray said “I’m delighted to win a medal after all my hard work and training. I want to thank everyone including my sponsors, family, my club Milford AC especially James Gibbons and Seamus Ferry and of course my donor without whom it wouldn’t be possible.”

Emma O’Sullivan, two-time kidney transplant recipient and mother of one, said “I’m delighted with the result I achieved a personal best time. I would like to thank my donors and their families as if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here today, and I’d like to thank the team at CH Health & Fitness in Glin.”

Charlie Ryan, in his seventies, was defending his six in a row European title and faced strong competitors. In the Darts match final against a Slovenian he secured victory. He said “I am delighted with six in a row, unbeaten. The game is getting tougher and tougher as the standard gets higher each year, but my practice pays off. I practice nearly every day. I’m thrilled with the result.”

Verina Borissova, who underwent a combined kidney and pancreas transplant, has returned to dialysis treatment said, “I am delighted with the result today and my practice has paid off. I competed against a Slovenian in the final and she was a great player and it was a very challenging game. I really want to thank my previous donor and of course my future kidney donor as I am awaiting a transplant. The Irish team has helped me and supported me today. They are brilliant people. I am really looking forward to competing in my next event, Petanque, on Wednesday.”

Team Captain Harry Ward spoke of his delight in winning a Bronze in the darts triples event and said, “I’m shocked and surprised but absolutely delighted. Well done to my team members Paul and Marie and to all the supporters. It was a great event.”

Also representing their country today was Dubliner Lenny Ryan from Tallaght and Michael Keohane from Roscarbery in Cork who took part in the Darts Triples competition with triples teammate and Gold medal winner Charlie Ryan.

Taking a keen interest in Transplant Team Ireland at the European Games is IT Tralee student and champion Jamaican sprinter Travane Morrison (age 25) who runs with Tralee Harriers and won an UNESCO scholarship for his master research into the benefits of sport and medication for kidney patients. Travane followed the Irish team out to the games on Saturday evening following him taking part in the Le Cheile International in Kildare where he won a Silver medal in the 100m sprint.

The Irish team of 10 women and 13 men ranging in age from 31 to 80 and includes 20 athletes who underwent kidney, pancreas or liver transplants as well 3 dialysis patients. The team are competing amongst competitors from 25 nations which for the first time in the Championships history will include Russia and Kazakhstan. The European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships are a celebration of life and showcase the value of sport and regular physical activity for people on dialysis and transplant recipients.

The European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships are open to all kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, bone marrow transplant recipients as well as dialysis patients. The multi-sport event includes athletics, badminton, cycling, darts, golf, mini marathon, petanque, swimming, table tennis, tennis, ten pin bowling, virtual triathlon and the hosts have also added archery and surf-casting. Athletes are divided into six age groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+). Swimming and track and field bring the sporting specialties total to 39.

A homecoming reception for Transplant Team Ireland will take place at Dublin airport’s arrivals hall (Terminal 1) when the team arrives home on a Eurowings flight from Dusseldorf on Sunday 24th June around 3.15pm.

The Irish Kidney Association is looking forward to bringing the biennial European Games back to Ireland in 2020 after it successfully hosted the 6th European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Dublin in 2010 which attracted over 500 participants and supporters from 23 countries.

The Irish Kidney Association is the charity organisation which manages Transplant Team Ireland’s participation at British, European and World Transplant Games events.

For more information on the 10th European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships and the Irish athletes visit the team blog www.transplantteamireland.wordpress.com or visit the Games website http://www.cagliarietdsc2018.it

The full Irish panel is as follows:-

Antrim: John McAleer, Newtownabbey (kidney) (oldest member of the team)

Cork: Mike Keohane, Roscarbery, Clonakilty (liver); Patrick O’Sullivan, Mallow (kidney) Charlie Ryan, Cobh (liver);

Clare: Marie O’Connor, Lahinch (kidney)

Donegal: Kieran Murray, Ramelton (kidney)

Kerry: Stephen Byrne, Tralee (kidney);

Kildare: James Nolan, Kilcullen (kidney)

Kilkenny / Limerick: Emma O’Sullivan, Glin, Co. Limerick and a native of Kilkenny (kidney)

Meath: Rachel Eagleton, Bettystown (kidney) (youngest member of team)

Roscommon: Linda Waters, Roscommon town (dialysis, pancreas transplant)

Tipperary: Orla Hogan, Nenagh (kidney); and Sheila Gregan, Nenagh (kidney)

Westmeath: Finian Farrell, Mullingar (kidney)

Dublin: Peter Heffernan, Skerries (kidney); Ron Grainger, Castleknock, D.15 (kidney); Paul Prendergast, Santry, D.9 (kidney); Aoife Murray, Clonsilla, D.15 (liver); Harry Ward, TEAM CAPTAIN, Baldoyle, D.13 (kidney); Chikoyo White, Balbriggan (dialysis);

Leonard Ryan, Tallaght, D. 24 (kidney); Verina Borrisova, (newcomer) native of Bulgaria now living in Tallaght, D. 24 (dialysis with pancreas transplant); and Deirdre Faul, Dalkey (liver).

Team Manager: Colin White from Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Team Doctor: Heather Gunning, Dublin 8 (works at Beaumont Hospital) native of Co. Down

Organ Donor Cards can also be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association tel. 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050. Visit website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or download the ‘Digital Organ Donor card’. Your wishes to be an organ donor can also be included on the new format driving licence which is represented by Code 115.

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