Competitons

Midlands Championships
Kettering Leisure Centre, 5th July 2009

 

Westmidlands TAGB Award Hagley and Bewdley

6 Entrants from Bewdley TAGB joined up with 2 from Hagley TAGB, both under the instruction of Katie Billingham to battle for their local areas in the Midlands championship.

Two young brothers from Hagley, Oliver, 9, and Joshua Sheppard, 11, entered for the first time in both patterns and sparring events. In a category of over 60 boys under 16 they missed out on the finals in the patterns division, but Oliver battled through to take the silver trophy in the Boys Yellow Belt Pee Wee division. His small stature was easily compensated by his flexible leg techniques and he used skilled head kicks, each giving him 3 points over his opponent. He fought through 6 rounds in his large division- a real challenge for his first ever competition but he did his club proud, winning the first ever trophy for Hagley TAGB, a beginners club which is still in its first year.

From Bewdley TAGB, also still primarily a beginners club, 2 bronze, 1 silver and 6 gold trophies were won. An outstanding result for any club, let alone one whose students have still only entered just a few major competitions.

Simon Whale took 3rd place in Men’s Green Belt Heavy Weight Sparring Division. At the mature age of 41, Whale would normally have competed as an Executive, but in this regional tournament he was pitched against much younger more nimble opponents. But, as in previous matches, he proved age is only a state of mind, using his fast foot work and intelligent movements to storm through the rounds to the semi finals where he lost out to the eventual winner of his division.

His daughter Ashlee Whale, 14 year old Bewdley High School Pupil, defended her Heavy Weight Girls Green Belt title, won earlier this year in the English Championships. Once again she did her father, her club and her town proud as she outclassed all others across the Midlands heading straight to the final and once again lifting the Gold trophy for Bewdley.

There were 3 first time entrants to competitions from Bewdley; Pippa Lock, 14, who took the Bronze in the Girls Yellow Belt Middle Weight division, Lee Statham, 25 whose lighting fast moves in the Men’s Light Weight division earned him the silver trophy, and Stacey Knight, 21 who entered both patterns and sparring. Despite being the lowest possible grade in a division of experienced technicians, Stacey walked away with the Gold trophy for the basic pattern Chonji Tul. In the Ladies Yellow Belt Heavy Weight Sparring, Knight proved her skill once again, wiping out all opponents on her way up to the Semi Finals. Here she came face to face with Bewdley’s experienced fighter Claire Bishop, who represented Bewdley in the Welsh National Championships and took Bronze. With an All Bewdley TAGB final the ladies fought for Silver and Gold, and with only a two point lead on the final bell it was Bishop who took the gold.

Hungry for more, Ashlee Whale and Pippa Lock joined forces in the Girls Tag Team Sparring and stormed to further victory, securing another first place for Bewdley, and Stacey Knight decided 2 trophies were not enough and teamed with her former rival Bishop to dominate the Ladies Tag Team Sparring.

All in all it was a fantastic day for both Bewdley and Hagley TAGB with their best ever competition results. The two teams, who often train together, were beaming on their journey home. Instructor Katie Billingham said “It’s a great result for any club, but when you think they are all still in their first year of training it’s absolutely amazing. These guys deserve every bit of success they get, they put in 110% and they reap the rewards. I can’t wait to see what happens in the British Championship in October after a summer of training!”

The schools cater for all ages and abilities. For more information on your local Tae Kwon Do School call Katie Billingham on 07837 459 044.

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