Successful Linguafit Camp

Samurai Uladh players Kathleen Mc Naught, Micheal McCay, Stephen McLaughlin, Callum Nash, Joshua Green and Niall Gallagher, accompanied by coaches Seamus Gallagher and Paul Green, recently finished an intensive week long training camp at Dublin City University.

The camp was a roaring success and all the players and coaches learned a great deal of technical and tactical skills which they can bring back to the club to pass on to all Samurai Uladh players!

It was a privilege for them to be on the mat with such superstars as World and Olympic gold medallist Ilias Iliadis (Greece) and triple Olympic medallist Mark Huizinga (Holland). Also coaching during the week were Olympic bronze medallist Anatoly Laryukov and current World bronze medallist Euan Burton (Scotland). All four coaches brought something different to the mat and demonstrated their own personal favourite techniques and competition tactics to a captivated audience.

All Samurai Uladh players present represented the club with distinction and were diligent and attentive throughout the week. Kathleen, Micheal and Stevie also completed fitness testing as part of the Irish national squad during the week. Congratulations to Kathleen who recorded the highest score in the vertical jump test on the ladies team and to Stevie who recorded the highest score in the push-ups test (80 push-ups in 60 seconds!!!) on the men's team.

Callum, Joshua and Niall took part in a full sports programme between judo sessions partaking in rock climbing, swimming, football and hurling.

The biggest smiles of the week though were on the faces of our coaches, Seamy and Paul who were like two kids in a sweet shop on and off the mat!!

Well done to all involved and roll on September so that we can put it all into practice!

More photographs of the camp will be available in the gallery.