Women In Sports- October Update

As we transition into the fall season, it’s time to recognize the achievements of women in sports during October.

In early October, Fionnuala Ross, representing Armagh AC, competed for Ireland in the Women’s Half Marathon at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia. She finished 41st with a time of 74:40, marking her return to racing after a break since the spring.

The Irish Women’s Darts Team achieved a historic win at the World Darts Federation World Cup in Denmark in October. This victory breaks the dominance of England and the Netherlands. The Team consisting of Rachel Byrne, Katie Sheldon, Caroline Breen, and Aoife McCormack, and the junior squad secured the second spot in their category. Congratulations to these accomplished women!

Glentoran Women, the reigning league champions, secured a double victory by defeating Cliftonville Ladies in the final of the Electric Ireland Women’s Challenge Cup. Many of these athletes also represented Northern Ireland in a match against Hungary, resulting in a hard-fought loss in overtime. They will face Hungary again on November 1st, continuing to improve under Tanya Oxtoby’s leadership. Congratulations to Glentoran on their achievements this season!

The inaugural WXV Rugby tournament saw the Irish women in 3^rd Level after their performance in the Six Nations earlier this year. They achieved a notable victory against Spain, placing them first in their division. Ulster player Fiona Tuite earned her first international cap at the tournament, along with Brittany Hogan and Sadhbh McGrath representing Ulster. This highlights the team’s progress under new leadership.

In October, the Irish Women’s Cricket Team won their first T20 International match against Scotland, winning by 7 wickets. The team, including several Ulster members, has consistently performed well. This victory concluded the Celtic Challenge series with a 3-2 win.

RESEARCH

This month, Deloitte released research exploring the connection between women in leadership and their involvement in sports during their youth. You can access this research (LINK).

Dove and Nike collaborated to create a resource on Body Confident Sport, promoting body confidence in sports for women. You can find more information (LINK). This resource also includes links to “Coaching Her,” a resource with modules focusing on coaching girls (LINK). These resources are valuable for coaches and program designers.

WOMEN IN SPORTS EVENTS

Two upcoming events to look forward to include Sport for Business’s Women in Sport Conference on November 7th and the “Empowering the Female Athlete Conference” organized by Ulster Ladies and Ulster Camogie in December. Tickets both are available on their respective  

As we continue to recognize the achievements of women in sports, let’s celebrate their dedication and positive impact on the athletic world. Stay tuned for more updates and inspiring stories about women’s sports in Northern Ireland.