Irish at Winter Olympics

[paudie]

http://www.olympicsport.ie/News.aspx?pageid=35

Womens bobsleigh team and mens skeleton have qualified. I think a womens alpine skiers has qualified as well

[HarpoJoyce]

That's great. Like Terry McHugh's team before them this Bobsleigh team is made up of Athletics with experience in summer events aswell.

They were all hitting the mark way back in 2005.
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?page_id=133
Claire Byrne was posting times in 100, 200m and 400m. Leona Byrne in 100m Hurdles and the High Jump. Aoife Hoey in Triple Jump and Shot.
That was back in 2005, but it shows what events they were into.

Hoey and Bergin competed in the World Junior Championships
http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=63&L=0&event=22536&L=0
9th place HOEY, Aoife/ BERGIN, Claire (IRL) Total: 1:45.69 +2.68
RUN1 (6)
RUN2 (9)

Don't understand all the numbers but they were in 6th after their first run.

I have alot time for these athletes that take part in classicly minority sports.

[Nagger]

Here is another link with the Vancouver contenders. Never even knew Ireland had an Winter Olympics team. Shame on me :(

http://www.olympicsport.ie/Content.aspx?pageid=165

[samhaydenjr]

Here is another link with the Vancouver contenders. Never even knew Ireland had an Winter Olympics team. Shame on me :(

http://www.olympicsport.ie/Content.aspx?pageid=165
...in 2002 we came within a whisker of a medal when the brilliantly named Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdin Wrottesley (the 6th Baron Wrottesley, don't you know) came fourth in the Men's Skeleton

[Aberdonian Stu]

Yeah I remember watching that in the TV room in my student res in Aberdeen and wildly waving my tricolour. He was third after the first run but lost the medal on the second.

[Charlie Darwin]

Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdin Wrottesley (the 6th Baron Wrottesley, don't you know)
With a name like that, he deserves a barony.

[Dodge]

He was actually Sir Clifden...

[samhaydenjr]

Final team announced January 27 - see http://www.olympicsport.ie/News.aspx?pageId=35&itemId=935 - best wishes to all

[Battery Rover]

The one thing I have always wondered about winter sports is what kind of mindset exists in a person taking part in the skeleton.

[Dodge]

A friend of mine did a bit of research on that exact subject for his masters in DCU. it basically goes like this

"AAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggg!!!!!!!! WWWWWWWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Oh **** oj **** oh **** oh ****!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! "

So basically like an average league of Ireland season condensed into 2 minutes

[paudie]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/late-objection-threatens-to-put-skids-on-bobsleigh-teams-dream-2052954.html

Those sporting Aussies are hoping to take the place of the Irish ladies bobsleigh team.

[paudie]

not sure if it's okay to post links to facebook groups but if not the mods can remove it.

Facebook page for the Irish Winter Olympic team
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-The-Irish-2010-Winter-Olympic-Team-Come-on-IRELAND/296773762639?ref=nf

[bennocelt]

Just wondering have we any chance of a medal at all, even a remote one?

[paudie]

Just wondering have we any chance of a medal at all, even a remote one?

I don't think so.

[theworm2345]

What happened to David Connolly (I am talking, of course, about the Irish skeleton racer from the last Olympics)?

[strangeirish]

What happened to David Connolly (I am talking, of course, about the Irish skeleton racer from the last Olympics)?He had no guts this time...:p

[weecountyman]

All downhill very fast for the Irish girls, the Aussies (those pillars of fair play) failed in their bid to ruin our fun.

[paudie]

http://www.olympicsport.ie/Content.aspx?pageid=46

Provisional schedule for Irish athletes

[samhaydenjr]

Well done to the Irish Women's Bobsled team who finished 17th of 21 teams. Finding themselves at the back of the field after a first run time of 55.05 seconds yesterday, Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin clocked a very creditable 54.49 in their second run and followed that up today with runs of 54.73 and 54.58 to overtake Australia and Russia 2. Great Britain crashed in the third run and Germany 2 crashed in the final run. I saw the Germany 2 accident and it was very frightening to watch but fortunately the two women, Romy Losch and Cathleen Martini (possible Irish connection?) walked away safely. Also Kirsten McGarry lies 55th after the first run of the Ladies' Giant Slalom. Only 68 of 86 competitors completed their run.

[endabob1]

I'm glad the bobsled team finished ahead of the Australians in particular after their shenanigans in qualifying