TEAM IRELAND continued its winning streak at the Special Olympics in Athens yesterday, securing medals across a range of sports including swimming, soccer and bocce.
In the bocce men’s singles events, Simon Darragh and Olive Magee were each awarded gold medals, while Kilkenny’s Conor Ryan took bronze.
Ireland performed strongly in the singles bowling events, with Newry’s Joyce Haughian and Mary Quigley of Tullow taking gold. Cobh native Paul Bridgman took silver, while Jonathon Griffin secured fourth position and Deirdre Garvin came seventh.
Dubliner Sally Duffy won gold in yesterday’s equestrian working trials and Steven Yetman took silver.
Meanwhile, the women’s basketball team beat Italy 24-16, and the women’s 5-a-side soccer team, who were also playing Italy, won 4-0 to take bronze.
The golf team were also celebrating yesterday, as Patrick Donnelly took gold, while Michael O’Leary, Laura Kelly and Denise Flattery all won silver medals. Gary Fleming won bronze and Stephen Deignan came fifth.
Over in athletics, Martin Mahood won silver in the men’s 800m and Rachel Ryan won bronze in the women’s 100m. Jacqueline Gault and Bernadette Kennedy each won bronze medals in badminton singles.
Galway’s Ruairi O’Toole won silver in the 500m kayaking event and Teresa Maguire took bronze. Shaun Bradley and Celine Mulready came fourth in their kayaking 500m events.
Swimmers also secured more medals yesterday, as Aisling Beacom won silver in the first open water event and Ciara Trait won gold for the 25m freestyle. Joseph Cullen (pictured) won gold for the 100m individual medley.
Yesterday’s results bring the Irish team’s total medal tally to 67, with 20 gold, 32 silver and 15 bronze medals. Irish athletes will continue to compete today and more information can be found on the Special Olympics Ireland website.
