Wexford Special Olympics Club celebrate big medal haul
Wexford Special Olymics Club returned from The Ireland Games in Limerick overjoyed after a most successful Games.
The group of 15 athletes accompanied by 6 coaches were part of The Leinster Team to take part in The Games in which a total of 1,500 athletes competed. All the Wexford athletes did their club and family members proud over the three days of Sport.
On day one the Wexford crew were delighted to hear of their first medal from Caroline Ferguson who had won Gold on The Leinster Bocce team.
Day two followed on with terrific performances from all the Athletes.
After a long Day on the Pitch and Putt course Thomas Whitty claimed Gold and Philip Clancy claimed bronze. The male gymnastic team was in action and Dean O Connor and Kevin Kinsella got three golds each on floor, beam and vault at level B. Paul Keane competed to a very high standard getting gold on Rings and floor and silver on the Parallel Bars. In the swimming pool Ruby Hardie Browne claimed silver in 25m freestyle.
On the final day of competition with plenty of medals still to be decided. Ruby was first in the swimming pool and swam to Gold in the 25m back stroke and later in the day another gold with the Leinster Relay team. The Bocce team were in action again and Caroline Ferguson won her 2nd Gold medal in the individual competition. Lisa McKegney the only girl on the gymnastic team kept her cool and put in steady performances to get gold in beam and silver in both bars and floor. Meanwhile out on the athletics track Bridget Cowman ran a great 200m to get the silver medal. Later on in the final race of the day Bridget finished the last leg of the relay to bring Gold home to Leinster again. While all this action was taking place there was plenty more in the Basketball arena . In the morning 4 of the Wexford girls Meadhbh Scallan, Rosie Murphy, Sarah Herlihy and Carole Ryan battled it out to claim bronze for Leinster in the play off. The last match of the day, ultimate final for the higher level took place where Marian Flood and Jenna Carthy played a stormer to claim another Gold to add to the final tally.
Wexford Special Olympics Club members brought home 27 All Ireland medals between them. Each and every athlete performed to their best and the support from family members was powerful. The determination, bravery and pure joy of the special olympics athletes was an experience to be treasured forever by anyone lucky enough to have been in Limerick to witness this fantastic event. !
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