Kellie Harrington and Michaela Walsh both made history Saturday night at the IABA National Elite Boxing Championships when each individually won a record 11th Irish title of their career.
Harrington and Walsh had previously tied the record with Kenneth Egan and Jim O’Sullivan who each won ten titles apiece.
Tokyo gold medal winner Harrington defeated Zara Breslin 5-0 in the 60kg final and just a few hours later fellow Olympian Michaela Walsh defeated Kellie McLoughlin 5-0 in the 57 kg decider.
Meanwhile Grainne Walsh triumphed over Christina Desmond in the 66kg final, Dainne Moorehouse defeated Shannon Sweeney (50kg), Jennifer Lehane defeated Niamh Fay (54kg), Lois Walsh defeated Carol Coughlan (48kg), and Linda Desmond defeated Isabella Hughes (63kg), with the latter two fights being won 4-1 and the others 5-0.
Harrington, Michaela Walsh, and Aoife O’Rourke have already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This weekend’s tournament was brought forward to allow time for Olympic qualifiers early next year in the hopes of adding to their number.