Who wants to try canoe polo in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland?
This Sunday, September 29th, 2019, a canoe polo competition - for the inaugural Mahon Cup - will take place in Kilcock Harbour. The event has been organised by Trish McCormack from Kilcock - who is currently battling breast cancer for the second time in her life - as a way to promote awareness about the disease, to raise funds for Breast Cancer Ireland, and to promote the sport of canoe polo.
Teams of players will compete in three different groups at all ages and skill levels.
As part of the compeition, the organisers are inviting players and potential players with basic kayaking skills to come along and try this fun sport.
You may have some canoe polo experience, be a bit rusty, or have no experience at all ... you just need to be able to paddle forwards and backwards - we will provide all equipment, an introduction to the sport and find you a suitable team based on your age and skill level. All ages, nine to 90 are invited.
Cost for the day will be €10 (pay on the day) - all proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Ireland. To register click on link:
Trish McCormack’s story
"Well its 2019 now and I’ve had a recurrence of breast cancer after 10 years. I’ve sat in many doctors waiting rooms and it was always a very gloomy place. I wanted to send a message to all women out there touched by cancer, that life can go on, that there can be a life after cancer. I knew I could with the amazing support of my family, friends and friends in the club.
"I wanted to do something special. I decided I would run a women’s competition and come try for paddles with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Ireland.
"This is helping me get through this cancer recurrence. It is keeping me busy. I’ve had surgery and chemotherapy now looms. I’m hoping I can make all the ladies old and young have a better awareness of breast cancer.
"I see the importance of being a role model. I never did see till now. It is important to fight this disease.
"I have four children, 10 grandchildren, a beautiful family, lots of friends and plenty of support. I thought I had to do this alone but the fundraiser has made me realise this is not the case.
"While writing this BIO I thought 'why would anyone want to hear my story?'. Now I think it’s many people’s story. When you first here you have cancer, you think 'am I going to die?'. Then you get through it somehow. My psychologist once said to me, some people barge through, some people crawl, others have to be pushed. But does it matter once you get through it. When the recurrence was diagnosed, I think I didn’t breath for a few weeks. I couldn’t believe I was here again.
Fundraiser
"As I’m going through this ordeal, many people say I’m very positive. What does positive look like you might ask. Well I think it is an overused word. Well picture this. You have just been diagnosed with cancer and all anyone can think to say is be positive.
"I continue to live is that not positive. Just because I need to say I’m scared or I am having a bad day doesn’t mean I’m not positive. It just means I’m human. So I though let’s take this overused word POSITIVE, and use it to make a difference. So I’m running the Mahon Cup in memory of my sister and anyone in my family with cancer."
History/health
1. Club was set up in 1998. My sons wanted to take up a new sport and did a canoe course in the harbour summer of 1998. I also did the course. We were hooked, played our first competition in Ballina end August 1998.
2. I soon realised I was a better organiser than a player and so started my 21-year journey of developing the club and the sport of canoe polo.
3. Over many years lots of children learned to canoe and play. I saw the need for a more structured format. So I fought to have juniors play at the international Irish Open. This was a major success and a stepping stone for the sport.
4. The European Championship was hosted in Kilcock in 2003. I was on the organising committee, 16 countries 36 teams. This was a huge learning curve for me.
5. My sister Marion was hugely involved in the running of the European Championships here in Kilcock. Unfortunately she died of breast cancer in 2006 after a 10 year battle. The club has been a great part of both of our live.
6. Little was I to know I too would develop breast cancer in 2008.
7. The club has been a great part of my life. It is a strong community, which I love being a part of. As part of a committee I work with the National Canoe Polo Committee, Canoeing Ireland, Waterways Ireland, Kildare County Council and local groups. This makes the club an integral part of the Kilcock community.
Trish McCormack's sporting background
Played basketball, soccer, camogie, badminton, tennis and cycling
1. 1988 to 1997 Scout leader Confey and Mulhussey (10 years).
2. 1990s basketball coach primary and secondary school teams (8 years)
3. 1994 to 2003 badminton coach, school teams, club teams and Kildare county teams.(9 years)
4. 1998 to present KCPC club coach, development and chairperson (21 years)
5. Irish squad manager
2000 to 2003 men’s team
2000 to 2004 u-21 men’s team
2007 under 21 ladies team
Involvement with KCPc and Canoeing Ireland:
· Club development officer 1998-2008;
· Various other roles 1998 to present;
· Developed and introduced Canoeing Ireland to code of ethics for children’s sport
· On the board of Canoeing Ireland four years in the early 2000s
· Trained as children’s and as a tutor for the code of ethics early 2000s
· Developed a coaching manual and badge award system in early 2004
· Coached many different age groups.
· Involved in the planning and funding of KCPS’s boat house. 2005
· Trustee of the club with three others personally guaranteeing €85,000 to secure loan to finance build of boat house.
National development
· Trish wrote a five-year plan in 2014 to develop u-21 and junior Irish squads.
· Managed this group for two years, which set squads on their way to be able to field teams in European and World Championships.
· Set up a junior under-14 and under-16 squad in 2017 and sent four teams to their first international competition in Belfast in 2017.