APR 2005

Moville Man takes Gold and Silver Medals

Ruarai Dougal, student, in his final year Accounting and Finance, took first place in the men's U21 event and silver in the senior men's division.

In the quarter final Ruarai was pitted against rival Euan Ron, the scottish man who ended Ruarai's involvement in the British University Championship at the end of February, although he inquired his ankle in the process. Ruarai went on to beat English National team star David Howells.

Ruarai said, "This was my best achievement yet, because they were all national team fighters and the standard was the same as the British Championship. There must have been between 400 and 500 taking part and a good 1000 spectators. I couldn't even sleep after it, I was on such a high. Ruarai said beating Euan Rob meant his silver in the Senior Championship was worth more than the other golds he achieved in his career to date. "I couldn't have fought any better, in fact it was the best I ever fought. I was delighted with my performance in the championship".

Ruarai will now concentrate on his final exams before heading to the Elite Athlete Training Centre in the Canary Islands this July for six weeks to hone his skills ahead of the U21 Karate World Championships in Cyprus in October, where he hopes to bring home a medal for Ireland.

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