Kilkenny skater secures All-Ireland title
Conahyman Anthony Rafter, who is the Game of Skate All Ireland Champion, pictured with some of his friends and skate park lobbyist Mick Greene with the winning medal. Photo: Pat Moore.
The All Ireland hurling final may be just around the corner, but Kilkenny has already secured yet another All Ireland title.
Anthony Rafter, a 22-year-old skateboarder from Conahy, was recently crowned champion in the Irish leg of the ÈS sponsored international skateboarding competition.
He claimed the title in the Mardyke Skatepark in Cork on Sunday after seeing off the challenge from 32 other skaters from around the country. After five gruelling rounds, Rafter eventually came out as the top skateboarder in the country. He will now go on to represent Ireland at the ÈS Game of Skate 2010 Final in Manchester on September 5.
Rafter is delighted with his win. “It was so great to win it,” he said. “There was a great atmosphere at the event and I knew so many of the competitors. It will be such an honour to represent Ireland in Manchester in September.”
Rafter, who has been skateboarding for six years, regularly makes the trip to skateparks in Dublin, Waterford, and Cork to hone his skills. Despite the large number of young people engaged in the sport locally, Kilkenny is still without a permanent area where the skateboarders can practice.
Speaking on behalf of Urban Sports Kilkenny, the local skateboard, rollerblade, and BMX club founder Mick Greene, expressed how delighted he was for Rafter.
“Anthony has worked really hard for this title and has been committed to his sport for years,” he said. “He is a real inspiration to the younger kids and proves what you can achieve despite having no support in terms of local facilities.
“We are working to establish a new skate facility in Kilkenny in the near future so that young athletes like Anthony will not have to leave Kilkenny to train and compete. I wish him the very best of luck representing Ireland in Manchester.”
Kilkenny skatepark coming soon?
1 comment:
There was a meeting recently and Kilkenny County Council decided on a location for the Skatepark, so we have to wait until December to see what funding we may get.
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