January 2014

John McHale wins Ballinrobe GAA All-In

Ballinrobe GAA sporting prediction competition has come to an end and no-one was able to knock John McHale from his perch. In fact as the competition drew to a close his predictions became more accurate that ever. At one stage I was ready to ask him what numbers he fancied for the lottery on the Saturday before Christmas.  Alan Flannery present winners prize to John McHale May we in Ballinrobe GAA take this opportunity to  thank you all for supporting this venture. We will back to you with a new improved version of All-In for 2014 in the near future. Have a look at the final results table below finalresults8thjan

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Listen here to Mission: Slimpossible! feature on Mid West Radio

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 – update – here’s the radio interview referenced below. Thanks to Angelina and Michael D from Mid- West Radio for running this interview, and thanks, as always, to Motivation Weight Management, who are making Mission: Slimpossible! possible. [audio:http://ballinrobegaaclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/slimpossible_mwr_01_12_14.mp3] SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014: Tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, representatives from the three clubs involved in Mission: Slimpossible! will appear on Mid West Radio. The interview will be broadcast live shortly after 4pm. You will send plenty on our site here about Mission: Slimpossible!, in association with Motivation Weight Management. We will record the interview and add it at the top of this page tomorrow. Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

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Good turn-out for Sunday morning Mission: Slimpossible! session

Despite uninviting weather conditions, we had a good turnout in Ballinrobe Town Park (the Green) for our second group training for Mission: Slimpossible! this morning.Thanks to Keith McTigue and Brian Golden for taking the group through a variety of stretching routines and passing on some tips. We had young and old along, which is what we want. Some walked, some jogged – everyone did at their own pace. Ballinrobe Town AFC were there at the same time, and Ballinrobe RFC were starting just as we finished. We estimate about 60 people got exercise. The next GAA team get-together is on Tuesday night when we meet our Motivation Weight Management people (Paula O’Hara and Tina McMahon, who have been putting in a huge effort) in the Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre at 7pm. After this meeting, there will be a group session (walking or jogging) around Ballinrobe. If you want to join in, come to the Lakeside Centre at 7.30pm. Come togged and ready for action. More HERE Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

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All invited to Mission: Slimpossible! walk/run

As you may know, we are taking on Ballinrobe RFC and Ballinrobe Town AFC in Mission: Slimpossible! We have created a special Mission: Slimpossible! section on the club website HERE – this will be updated on an on-going basis. And there’s also the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/slimpossibleballinrobe Good luck to our 20 participants and well done to all of them for taking on the challenge. But everyone can be involved in our training sessions – and that’s what we want. The more the merrier. Last night, we had a good turn-out of participants, friends, family and club members for our first session, a walk or run around the town. Our next session is tomorrow morning, Sunday, January 12th, in the Green, at 10am. You can walk or run. You can walk or run as far and as fast as you wish – zero pressure. It will be good fun and a chance to exercise with friends, colleagues and family. Young and old are welcome. We had a child (and not that small of a child either) being pushed around the town last night. The club approach to Mission: Slimpossible! can be summarised as follows: Let’s support our 20 participants Let’s get as many people as possible out to take part in our sessons Let’s have fun while promote a healthy lifestyle among our members, families and friends Let’s help to raise good money for the Friends of Grace charity, who get the proceeds from admission and raffle on the final night Let’s wear club gear to sessions and get-togethers – we have a strong sense of ‘club’ in everything  we do, so let’s bring that into Mission: Slimpossible! Let’s win it (while we’re at it!) Tomorrow morning, bring runners and wrap up well. Also tomorrow, at about 4pm, three representatives from Mission: Slimpossible! will be interviewed on Mid West Radio. Our rep is John Culhane. Tune in. We are very grateful to Motivation Weight Management for their extremely generous support of this event – they really have pulled out all the stops, and all free of charge –  and also to Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre who are making their coaches and facilities available, also free of charge. Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

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Drop weight, raise funds

Drop weight, raise funds – Ballinrobe sports clubs have ‘Motivation’ to attempt ‘Mission Slimpossible!’ Three sports clubs in Ballinrobe are to take each other on in a novel weight loss fundraiser over the first three months of 2014. Mission: Slimpossible! is the title of the battle which will see representatives of the town’s rugby, soccer and Gaelic football clubs vow to shed excess weight. The competition will be overseen by Motivation Weight Management, who are kindly donating their expertise and personnel free of charge. Twenty members of each club have signed up to an eight-week campaign – and each participant has been given a personal weight loss target. The competition will be won by the club whose 20 representatives perform best against their individual targets. In 2011, Ballinrobe RFC, Ballinrobe Town AFC and Ballinrobe GAA club teamed up to contest a Mayor of Ballinrobe campaign, and the winner on that occasion – Peter McHugh of Ballinrobe RFC – will lead his club’s team in this repeat battle. “There are a number of angles to Mission: Slimpossible!,” explained Peter. “First off, it is a weight loss, wellbeing and fitness campaign for all 60 people involved, with a weekly weigh-in and training session, plus a number of other fun events over the eight weeks. “Secondly, it is an opportunity for all three clubs to raise funds, with supporters given the opportunity to back their favourite participants. Thirdly, there are prizes for those who buy tickets in support of the event. “And, fourthly, the event will also be used to raise money for a worthwhile local charity, Friends of Grace.” The competition kicks off on Tuesday, January 14th, and all will be revealed at the final night in the Valkenburg on Friday, March 14th. Admission to the final night will be €10 and all proceeds on the night go towards the Friends of Grace charity. Said Robin Smith, Motivation Weight Management: “At Motivation Weight Management we are delighted to be getting involved in this really worthwhile fun idea.” He added: “This community based event is going to help raise money for local clubs, charity and also help 60 people get closer to their healthy weight. We feel this event is worthy of everyone’s support. “We are really looking forward to helping people lose weight in a healthy way and sharing our nutritionally balanced food plans with them.” Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre are providing their facilities and the services of their coaches free of charge to support Mission: Slimpossible! More information is available on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlimpossibleBallinrobe The men and women who will fight this novel battle are as follows: Ballinrobe RFC: Peter McHugh, Trevor Watson, Seamus O’Toole, Paul Keane, Deirdre Burke, Aidan Golden, Marie Boyle, Josephine Keane, Martina Jennings, Eoin Roe O’Neill, Jimmy Daly, Brian O’Connor, Pat McGrath, Aidan Feerick, Ivana Dolihalova, John Flannery, Julie Duffy, Mick Walsh, John Walsh, Brian Flannery.   Ballinrobe GAA club: Alan Flannery, Liam Horan, John Culhane, Vincent Cummins, Michael Conroy, Jim Lennon, Eamon McGreal, Keith McTigue, Linda Stafford, Martin Murphy, Liam McCormack, Martina McCormack, Brian Golden, Tom Carney, Hilary Joyce, Paddy McTigue, Elaine O’Brien, Sean Murphy, Damien O’Kelly, Siobhan Costello.   Ballinrobe Town AFC: Billy McGrath, Ronan O’Dea, Lillian O’Malley, Helen O’Neill, Dermot Doran, Sean Reilly, Pat Maloney, Edel Loftus, Val Gibbons, Tracey Burke, Michael O’Connor, Tony Walsh, Pauline Joyce, Shane Ryan, John Doherty, Noel Finlay, Michelle Finlay, Sean Maloney, Aideen O’Shea, Carmel Keady,   How it will work: For the participant clubs: Each participant is given an individual weight loss target they aim to reach over the eight weeks. If they reach 100 per cent of their target, they score 100 points for their club. If they reach 75 per cent of their target, they score 75 points for their club, and so on. The club with the most number of points wins. If somebody exceeds their target, their score will remain at 100 points, as the organisers do not wish to promote excessive weight loss. The winning club will receive €1,500 first prize. For the supporters: There will be an opportunity for members of the public to buy a ‘forecast ticket’ during the competition. When purchasing this ticket, costing €5, each supporter will be asked to predict the order in which the three clubs will finish. Those who successfully predict the ultimate 1-2-3 will be entered into a draw for top prize of €300.   Key dates Initial weigh-in took place in Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Tuesday, January 7th, 2014; Weekly weigh-ins, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Every Tuesday thereafter until final weigh-in (GAA 7pm, soccer 8pm, rugby 9pm); Group training sessions, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Friday, January 17th, and every Friday until Friday, March 4th (exact time to be confirmed); Saturday, February 1st: Ballinrobe RFC fun challenge, details to be finalised; Saturday, February 15th: Ballinrobe GAA fun challenge, details to be finalised; Saturday, March 1st: Ballinrobe Town AFC fun challenge, details to be finalised; Final weigh-in, Lakeside Sports & Leisure Centre, Ballinrobe: Tuesday, March 11th, 7pm; Winning announcement: Gala Charity Night, Friday, March 14th, venue to be finalised. All proceeds from the final night will go towards the Friends of Grace charity.   Steering committee: Alan Flannery, Liam Horan (GAA club); Michele Conroy, Brian Conroy (soccer club); Nicola Burke, Colette Burke (rugby club); Peter McHugh (Mayor of Ballinrobe). Visit Motivation Weight Management website HERE

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Two Scor na nOg successes for Ballinrobe

Congrats to our Scor na nOg competitors who were victorious in the South Mayo finals in Hollymount Hall last weekend.Sioda Finnerty won the Solo Singing competition, while she was also a member of the Ballad Group team that also emerged as winners. Her colleagues in the Ballad Group are Sorcha Hobson, Aoife Culhane, Sibeal Finnerty and Chloe Feeney. They now go on to take part in the county finals this weekend in Breaffy, and we wish them the best of luck. Thanks also to teachers Ms Dympna Culhane and Ms Triona Canny, who have once again prepared all our participants for Scor na nOg. Photos of our participants to follow.

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