Killough savate enthusiast has won a world gold medal at the finals in Slovenia
Killough teenager Oran (James) Denvir has won the world youth championship title in savate, a martial art, in the 13-15 year old category at the finals held in Slovenia.
Oran is a pupil of the Down High School in Downpatrick and fought for the Irish team with the support of savate mentors Oonagh and Sifu Joe Ferris who manage the clubs in Downpatrick and Newcastle.
Savate is a martial art that emerged from the back streets of Paris and Marseilles in the 19th century and is now regulated by the World Savate Federation.
But what could be more confusing… there are two Oran Denvir’s in the local club who both participated in the world championships in Slovenia.
Oran James Denvir won the world championship gold medal and is also the current Euro champion for his age group (13-15), and Oran Denvir from Chapeltown near Ardglass competed in the youth section (15-17 years old).
Club instructor Sifu Joe Ferris said: “It is a great achievement for both of our Oran Denvirs who are not related but have the same names.
“We are delighted they both have done so well getting to the championship, and that Oran James Denvir has brought home a gold medal.
“They both have trained so hard over the past year attending three nights a week and attending sessions at weekends. They are dedicated to the sport and with this comes their confidence which shines through. They have both deserved their successes in the club.
”It can get complicated at times and we have to check that the right Oran is in the right category at the right time in competitions.”
Speaking on his return back to Killough, Oran James Denvir said: “I am absolutely over the moon at winning this world title. There has been a lot of preparation for this event in Slovenia and it certainly paid off.
“I enjoy other sports too at school such as swimming, but rugby is my favourite there and our school has an excellent record. I’m very fit but had to get to peak fitness for the final fight against a Croatian which I won.
“I’m looking forward to progressing in my gradings as a savateur. I used to do kickboxing from a very early age but moved to savate as kick boxing was just too rough when I was eight years old – I really enjoy savate now.
“The Euros are on next year so I’ll have to step up the training to ensure I can do well.”
And (the other) Oran Denvir finished unplaced overall in the world championship but can hold his head up high as he was beat in his two fights on close split decisions against older competitors.
Oran, a pupil of the De La salle High School in Downpatrick, said: “It was a great experience to travel to Slovenia and take part in the world championships.
“I am the current Euro champion for my age group since 2022. Although I was not placed coming in fourth in Slovenia I’m going to be training hard now for the next six months for the next big competition coming up in the Euros.
“I am a junior black belt in Thai kickboxing and have a senior brown belt. Also Joe Ferris teaches jeet kune do with savate so I am pretty well prepared in techniques.
“I just need now to peak at the right time for the Euros coming up next year”.
Savate centres on four basic kicks and four punches. It began as a self-defence as Savate de Rue (street fighting) in France in the early 19th century where the combatants wore special heavy boots now modified into lighter footwear.
The rules for the sport have been cleaned up too from its early days and the International Savate Federation since the eighties regulates the sport having banished eye gouging, groin kicks or head butting techniques that would have been the order of the day in the slums in France 150 years ago.
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