On Saturday 17th March SGTKD students and family joined those from Thornbury TKD, Swindon Imperial TKD, Paignton & Torquay TKD and Cardiff Martial Arts to travel up to Motherwell to attend the UKITF Scottish Championships.


The long coach journey was made easier by several stops en route and by Mr Churchward kindly buying a couple of films for us to watch when we stopped at the first services! The weather was good to us and we got some great views of the changing scenery as we headed north.


After a seven hour trip we arrived at the hotel and having eaten a very welcome meal in the restaurant most of us settled down for a relatively early night. The hotel staff kindly opened for breakfast at 7.30am the following morning to accommodate our early departure to the competition, and so we left with full stomachs and ready for the day ahead.


The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility was superb, with an abundance of space and seating and excellent lighting. Virtually everything had been set up in the hall by the time we arrived at 9am and there was a hive of activity around the rings and top tables. With a great atmosphere from all the competitors and supporters the Championship started "full steam ahead"!


The first podium positions for Stoke Gifford were obtained by Kieran, Ollie, Ben and Joe who managed a clean sweep of medals in the 1st Degree Cadet Patterns. Soon Billy, Esme, Connie, Dominik, Laura, Jenny, Irek and Phoebe followed by gaining gold in their pattern categories with Callum, Lucie, Sarah, Chloe and Rae-Ann also acheiving podium positions.


The day continued as it had started and it wasn''t long before excellent sparring performances from all concerned added to the medal tally. Billy, Ben, Joe, Esme, Connie, Dominik, Sarah and Jenny all acheived golds, Callum, Lucie, Ollie and Irek gained silvers and Kieran, Chloe and Phoebe gained bronzes. Ollie added a gold in special technique and before we knew it the day was over and the coach was packed with tired competitors and supporters ready for the long journey home.


The organisation of the day was excellent and our thanks go to our hosts, the Tournament Committee, the "top tables" and all those umpires and referees who worked flat out to keep the day running so smoothly.


"The Giff" had a really successful championships with all those who competed returning to Bristol with a medal or two. We are now looking forward to the South West Open Championships and a visit to another lovely part of the country.


Results :-


Ben Baker-Attwood ~ Gold Sparring, Bronze Patterns


Sarah Baker-Attwood ~ Gold Sparring, Silver Patterns


Chloe Baker-Attwood ~ Bronze Sparring, Bronze Patterns


Jenny Brown ~ Gold Sparring, Gold Patterns


Laura Robertshaw ~ Gold Patterns


Billy Smith ~ Gold Sparring, Gold Patterns


Irek Kruk ~ Silver Sparring, Gold Patterns


Dominik Kruk ~ Gold Sparring, Gold Patterns


Joseph Elson ~ Gold Sparring, Bronze Patterns


Kieran McDermott ~ Bronze Sparring, Silver Patterns


Callum Brown ~ Silver Sparring, Silver Patterns


Esme McCarthy ~ Gold Sparring, Gold Patterns


Lucie Robertshaw ~ Silver Sparring, Silver Patterns


Ollie Robertshaw ~ Silver Sparring, Gold Patterns, Gold Special Technique


Connie McDermott ~ Gold Sparring, Gold Patterns


Phoebe Grandfield ~ Bronze Sparring, Gold Patterns


Rae-Ann Elson ~ Silver Patterns