The Camogie Association have launched the second annual Hurl Smart week, in partnership with the Nutrition & Health Foundation. Running from the 17th to the 23rd there is a programme of activities for all ages, males and females in a number of clubs across Ireland as well as tips on the website to encourage people to Hurl Smart increase their activity levels and get healthier.
Activities are free and open to members and non-members of Camogie clubs. Fun activities for all adults and children of all ages and genders include Wall Ball Marathon and a Skills star Challenge.
Speaking about the initiative Dr. Muireann Cullen, Manager of the NHF said:
“We are delighted to again partner with the Camogie Association on Hurl Smart week, our second collaboration to encourage the nation to become more active. Obesity costs €1.6 billion per year and will escalate if this national health issue is not addressed. 37% of Irish Adults are overweight and 24% are obese . Results from the GUI study confirm that a sizeable proportion of nine-year-old children in Ireland are overweight: 30% of girls and 22% of boys.
Only half (51%) of children exercise four or more times per week. This is no surprise when three out of four 9 year old children don’t get the World Health Organisation / National Physical Activity guidelines recommended level of physical activity of 60 minutes per day. Only 21% of girls meet this recommended amount of daily activity .
Hurl Smart week aims to encourage people all over Ireland to get active, even just a little per day. One in 10 children watch three or more hours of television on an average weekday and 66% watch for between one and three hours. If some of this TV time was substituted for 60 minutes of a moderate level of activity, we could reverse the obesity epidemic and give our children a healthier, happier future.
“Yes, these facts are alarming and we need to address our lifestyle choices – getting moving is a good start.”
Aileen Lawlor, President of the Camogie Association said:
“The Camogie Association is delighted to launch the second annual Hurl Smart week with the Nutrition and Health Foundation. As one of Ireland’s leading female sports organisations we acknowledge the importance of nutrition and exercise in our daily lives and especially for children. Last year, we launched the first ever diary and nutrition guide for the teenage camogie player and we are delighted to follow this up, with another Hurl Smart week.
All across Ireland clubs will be involved in activities for Hurl Smart week and I encourage as many clubs as possible to participate in the events and to promote healthy eating and exercise during this particular week.”
A list of organised activities are as follows:
Hurl Smart Week- North East Ulster : Ross Corbett
Edendork, Co. Tyrone
Monday: U16 Conditioned Games Session
Tuesday: Mum&Me and fundamental skills nights with u8-u12
Wednesday: Come& Try It Days- Laghey P.S. and Carland P.S.
Thursday: U16 Skills Competitions: Poc Fada & Hurley Golf
Saturday: Nursery Morning u6-10
________________________________________
Hurl Smart Week- Yvonne Byrne
Na Brideoga Camogie Club, Mayo, Easkey Sligo
Monday: Club U14 Training Easkey, Sligo
Tuesday: Under 12 Training and game – Training Na Brideoga and Westport U12 teams followed by a game.
Wednesday: Mum and Me session, primary school internal blitz
Thursday: U14 and U16 Training specialised skills
Friday: Adult Wall Ball session
Saturday: Mixed Blitz- All under age teams from 8’s to 14’s will be mixed up to make teams and mini games will take place.
Sunday: Adult Training/Challenge match.
________________________________________
HURL SMART WEEK-Deirdre Murphy
Newmarket-On- Fergus Camogie Club
Monday: U10 Blitz (Broadford) Schools Visits to Promote Fun Evening.
6-7 pm: Mum & Dads ‘Come Hurl With Me’
Wednesday: U16 Camogie Match. Halftime crossbar challenge
Thursday: Hurl Smart Week Fun Evening, Young & Old. Activities include: Olympic Challenge Obstacle Course, Target Shooting, Relays, Welly Throwing, Parents Long Puck, Adult Ultimate Obstacle Challenge (Open to Boys & Girls aged 7-13)
________________________________________
Hurl Smart Week- Dublin: Eve Talbot
Castleknock Camogie Club
Monday: Strength & Conditioning training with fitness coach Owen McGrath Fingal Sports Dept – U16’s&Junior team
Tuesday: Mini Blitzes U8/9/10s – County Camogie players in Attendance for talk and with Promo material
Wednesday: Nutrition & Skills Session with Mark McManus (GPO) from McNutrition U13/14s
Thursday: Mini Blitzes U11/12s – County Camogie players in Attendance for talk and with Promo material
Saturday: Nursery Mum & Me Taster Programme with RDO
________________________________________
Hurl Smart Week- South Leinster: Patrick Mullaney
Young Irelands Camogie Club
Monday: Nursery Fun Night- fun games and drills using Fundamentals for 5,6,7 and 8 year olds.
Tuesday: Under 14 Skills Circuits- Specific skills including hooking, blocking and striking on the run for under 14’s.
Wednesday: Long Puc and Soloing Relay Races for all adult squads
Thursday: School Blitz- The club have players attending the local primary school and playing an internal blitz.
Friday: Goalkeeping workshop and penalty shoot-out.
Saturday: Mixed Blitz- All under age teams from 8’s to 16’s will be mixed up to make teams and mini games will take place.
________________________________________
Hurl Smart Week-Galway-Caroline Murray
St. Thomas Camogie Club
Monday: Club under 8 & under 10- Fun games and Blitzes
Tuesday: Under 14 and under 16- skills session and relay race
Adult skills session with guest coach
Wednesday: Healthy eating for sport information to teams
Thursday: Adult Poc Fada & wall ball session
Friday: Under 8, 10 and 12 obstacle course
Sunday: Adult Training/Challenge match.
________________________________________
Hurl Smart Week-Louth-Ger Gribben
St. Anne’s Camogie Club
Monday: Adult team challenge match as part of warm up to final on Saturday
Tuesday: U-12 play league match against St. Brides in Drumcar @ 6.30pm
Wednesday: Launch of their ’Camogie Club’ art competition for all children of all ages in their parish.
Under age skills and games training on Port Beach @ 6.30pm
Thursday: U-14 league match against Clontibret in Drumcar @6.45pm
Friday: Adult team coaching and tactical session.
ENDS
* For further information please contact Claire Egan, Communications & Marketing Director, The Camogie Association, Tel: 01 865 8618, 087 9030 755 Email: Claire@camogie.ie
*For information on events and how to organise a Hurl Smart week in your club contact Caroline Murray, Acting Director of Camogie Development, Tel: 087 125 1269 Email: cmurray@camogie.ie
Notes to the editor:
About the NHF:
The Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF) is an independent partnership of industry, government, State agencies, internationally recognised scientists, health professionals and relevant stakeholders working together to address Ireland’s lifestyle, nutrition and health challenges. The NHF communicates evidence based information on nutrition, health and physical activity to encourage an improved and healthier society in Ireland with key initiatives including their free Workplace Wellbeing Campaign, the annual NHF ‘Eat Smart Week’ and its annual Seminar which encourages debate on these core topics.
For further information, see www.nhfireland.ie.
If you require information on Hurl Smart week in a specific region please contact the following Regional Development Co-ordinators:
Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon: Lizzie Flynn: Ph: 087 643 6579,
Email: lfynn@camogie.ie
North Leinster/South Ulster: Gerard Gribben: Ph: 087 273 3847, Email: gerard@camogie.ie
South Leinster: Patrick Mullaney: Ph: 087 414 6933, Email: patrick@camogie.ie
Munster: Deirdre Murphy Ph: 087 6415485, Email: deirdre@camogie.ie
Kildare/Dublin: Eve Talbot Ph: 085 112 8669, Email: eve@camogie.ie
Leitrim, Donegal, Fermanagh: Yvonne Byrne: Ph: 087 623 5855, Email: yvonne@camogie.ie
Galway, Mayo, Sligo: Caroline Murray: Ph: 087 125 1271, Email: cmurray@camogie.ie
*Pictured President of the Camogie Association Aileen Lawlor and Dr Muireann Cullen of the Nutrition and Health Foundation
