On Saturday 26th February, Mr Scott and his troops from UK ITF (Scotland Region 1) travelled south to Wales for the UK ITF Welsh National Championships at Penarth Leisure Centre, picking up our friends from Ayrshire en-route, before hitting the M6 motorway.

 

With our own Scottish Open Championships only a month away, everyone was keen to shake off the ring rust and get back into the competition mix and so with 9 competitors and our 6 supporters we set off on the long journey from Edinburgh with winning, the only thing on our minds.

 

As we arrived at the competition venue at around 9am, it was clear that we weren’t the only ones keen to kick off the year with a bang as the hall was already packed with competitors, officials and spectators.

 

Once the competition kicked off it was time to take in some of the early action and psyche ourselves up for the events ahead of us, while trying to keep warm and loose during the long wait to be called to a ring for action.

 

From the first competitor to step onto the mat to the last competitor to leave the mat we were getting amongst the medals in all four disciplines, with success after success throughout the day from our seasoned black belt competitors right through to our white belt competition debutant.

 

In total, we took home a whopping 16 medals, with 11 of them gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.

 

Unfortunately some of our competitors had to leave without their gold medals as there was a shortage on the day, but we have been promised that they will be posted to Mr Scott as soon as possible.

 

The full medal tally is as below:

 

Gavin Robertson: Gold – Sparring & Bronze – Patterns

Brad Robertson: Gold – Sparring & Gold – Special Technique

Chloe Gault: Silver – Patterns & Bronze – Sparring

Lynsey Hope: Gold – Sparring, Gold – Patterns & Gold – Destruction

Chris Devine: Gold – Sparring & Bronze – Patterns

Struan Mackenzie: Gold – Sparring & Gold – Patterns

Kirsty Mackenzie: Gold – Patterns & Silver – Sparring

Brad Holleron: Gold – Sparring

 

Another outstanding tournament performance from the QMU TKD team who were once again cheered on by one of the most vocal supporting teams, namely Mr Douglas Robertson, Miss Jennifer Robertson, Mr James Gault and Donald Muir who were on hand to offer support and advice throughout the day and to whom we owe an absolutely massive thank you for their efforts!

 

Support like that really does make a massive difference when you are alone in the ring on the receiving end of some punches and kicks!

 

Thank you also to Mr Chris McCrory and Mr Desmond Harkin from Ayrshire who joined us for the trip and spent most of the day helping officiate on the rings.

 

Overall, the competition was a huge success and we would like to extend our thanks to Master Ian Lawes and UK ITF Wales for their hospitality on the day and to all competitors, officials and spectators for ensuring that this was such a memorable event.

 

We look forward to seeing everyone again at our Scottish Open Championships at the end of March.