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Displaying items by tag: Sean Dillon

Irish powerboat racers have taken to the world stage in the southern hemisphere for the first time. (SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS)

Keith Plummer, Lee Casey and Colin Gaffney from Dublin, all members of the Buccaneer Powerboat Club and Sean Dillon and Gary Hogg from Clare, members of the Irish Offshore Powerboat Racing Club took part in the UIM P750 World Championships South Africa last week. 

On the ground the reports were that even though the Irish competitors had their mechanical setbacks they kept pushing hard. When it came to the rough stuff in the surf they really shined, gaining a lot of respect from their fellow competitors.

Sean Dillon & Gary Hogg had two wins and a second in the surf discipline and finished fourth overall in the championships. Mechanical setbacks denied Colin Gaffney and co-driver Bongani Ndesi, a world Championship medal to accompany his European Championship medal won at the UIM P750 European Championship at Killaloe in October.

All five have reported that it was a great experience and that taking part showed them what a wonderful sport this is and being part of the UIM family. They all said how proud they were to be Irish and the first competitors with an ISA Powerboat Racing Licence to Race in South Africa.

The P750 class has gone from strength to strength in Ireland and 2010 saw a well-supported national Championship, the P750 Europeans being held in Ireland and Irish Competitors competing in the World Championships.

Pictures below by Paul Bedford/www.actionimages.co.za

Colin Gaffney Boat No 21,  Keith Plummer and Lee Casey From Dublin Boat No 22,  Sean Dillon and Gary Hogg from Clare Boat No 49. Sean and Gary were the top Irish team being placed fourth.

Published in Powerboat Racing

Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.