Gold Medal for Young Irish Wakeboarder

The Europe Africa Wakeboard Championships attracted athletes from 16 Countries this weekend, staged at Vanderbijlpark near Durban, in the Republic of South Africa.

Last year, Ireland's Wakeboard Team placed 9th and took home one Silver and one Bronze medal. Considering Ireland's short Summer season, this was encouraging. Coaching and enormous commitment have since made quite a difference. This time around, the medals haul has caused a sensation in the Wakeboard world and has already hit the Social Media headlines around the World.

Team Ireland will arrive back to Dublin tomorrow with an impressive collection of one Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals. The Team also took third place overall, beating major Wakeboard powers such as France, Russia, Great Britain, Spain and Sweden.

Most impressive of all was Dublin Student and Irish National Wakeboard Champion, 18 year-old David O'Caoimh. At last year's Europe Africa Championships in Sweden he took the Bronze medal. In the World Championships in Italy he went on to take Silver. This time again he got through to the Finals, taking on the best Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy and the Republic of South Africa. His score of 57.45 was a clear two points ahead of his nearest rival, Dylan Mitchell RSA and four points ahead of Bronze medalist, Massi Piffaretti ITA. O'Caoimh has now been invited to take part in the next Stop of the World Cup Series in Western Australia on St Patrick's day.

The Irish Wakeboard Team is supported by the Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation and the Irish Sports Council.