At the Female Sports Forum, it seems that every month is becoming a busy month but that always makes it eventful. We’re eagerly gearing up for our inaugural women’s sports series networking event scheduled for September. Alongside this, it’s equally thrilling to witness the steady influx of women’s coaching programs and seminars shaping the ongoing season. But now, let’s delve into the remarkable sporting achievements of the month.
Kicking off the month in an impressive manner, Bethany Firth secured two first-place finishes in the 100BK and 200 IM, a second place in the 200FR, and a commendable third-place finish in the 100 FLY at the Para Swimming World Champs in Manchester. Bethany’s remarkable performance has showcased her consistent dominance in her events, successfully retaining her world titles. Congratulations to her on this outstanding meet! However, the realm of swimming accomplishments doesn’t conclude here.
This month, the Youth Commonwealth Games took place in Trinidad and Tobago, featuring five young women athletes competing in both athletics and swimming. This event was a whirlwind of activity. Among the participants, the trio of swimmers – Grace Davidson, Alana Burns-Atkin, and Ellie McCartney – demonstrated their skills with several top-ten finishes. Notably, Ellie McCartney secured podium finishes in the 200m BR, 100m BR, and 200IM, while Grace Davidson achieved podium success in the 400IM and 200IM. On the athletics front, Anna Gardiner secured a commendable 5th position in the 3000m, and Lucy Foster claimed the 8th spot in the 1500m. Witnessing these young athletes exhibit such strong performances fills us with anticipation for their future achievements in their respective sports.
The LEN European U23 Swimming Championships, held this month, unveiled a myriad of personal bests, and provided invaluable insights into the swimmers’ form as we transition into the fall season.
In the realm of basketball, three women joined the Basketball Ireland teams, participating in various tournaments throughout the month. Notably, Aoibheann Donnelly, representing Belfast Stars, made a mark by starting for the first time against Cyprus in the European U16 Championships. Enya Maguire’s amassed 21 points played a pivotal role in Ireland’s women securing a close 73-67 victory over Austria at the National Basketball Arena. Abigail Rafferty, who studies at Ulster University, also contributed her talents to the Ireland Squad.
A notable development in the Northern Ireland Senior Women’s football team is the appointment of Tanya Oxtoby as the new manager, succeeding Kenny Sheilds who stepped down the last year. Tanya brings with her a wealth of experience, having served as an assistant coach for Chelsea Women among other notable positions. Being able to see women in these leadership positions and coaching roles is important to the continued progress of women in sports both on and off the field. A warm welcome to Tanya; we eagerly await the continued progress of the women’s football team. MORE INFO
The commencement of the world athletics championships during the week of the 21st marked another significant event. Team Ireland showcased a strong group of 24 athletes, with the representation of Northern Irish athletes among them. Ciara Mageean demonstrated her continued dominance in the 1500m, securing a 4th-place finish with a time of 3:56.61. Kate O’Connor’s heptathlon performance earned her a commendable 13th-place finish. Team Ireland not only achieved personal bests but also made their mark in the finals, underscoring the athletes’ strength and the rise of Team Ireland.
Lastly, our sailing role models made their mark at the Junior U23 World Championship. Erin McIlwaine, accompanied by her crew Ellie Cunnane, and Ellen Barbour with Elysia O’Leary, demonstrated their skills as they work diligently towards the 2028 Olympics. Erin’s accomplishment of securing two race wins and finishing 20th all-female, along with Ellen’s worthy 27th position as she only has two months of the 49er FX under her belt. A complete read of Erin’s role model interview is now up on the Female Sports Forum Website.
The Irish Hockey Team has finished 5th at the EuroHockey Championship. This means they will have a spot in the elite tier for 2025. The team was captioned by Katie Mullan, the women played strong games during the tournament. This final tie with Italy led them to top their group and qualify for the Olympic qualification round. Our role model Anna Pim also won the Youth Leader award during the EuroHockey Youth Festival.