Newsletter 2/2013 ITA Black Belt Open Report
The ITA Blackbelt Open took place in the Watershed Sports Complex, Co. Kilkenny on June 2nd 2013. The tournament was open exclusively to black belt & black tags and was the last qualification tournament for those hoping to represent Ireland in the World Championships in Benidorm in October.
There was a high-calibre of Taekwon-Do on display with many World & European championship medalists taking part in the junior & senior sections.
Highlights of the Championships included the female blackbelt sparring where Louise Mc Cagh took Gold in a close-fought section, while Sabina Mason & Joanne Deegan took Silver & Bronze respectively. In the male -57kg section Jamie Williams took Gold, while Eddie Dillon was second. Adam Shelley won the male senior -70kg sparring section. Mr Shelley later took silver in the -85kg section, where Darren Smith of Intergrity Martial Arts was the gold medalist & Dave Lynch took Bronze. In the male -78kg, Stephen Smullen took Gold, Hong Looi was 2nd & John Moffit came in third place. In the patterns sections there was an equally high level on display with Hong Looi taking gold in the 4th to 6th Dan patterns, with Stephen Ryan 2nd and Stephen Smullen 3rd and Nicole Moriarty beating Ellen Ince in the final of the Junior female 1st Dan black belt section.
For photos of the event follow this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/IrishTKD/BlackBeltOpenJune2013JD/.
The Irish team for Benidorm is now being selected and will be announced shortly by the national team coaches, we wish all the competitors good luck as they begin their preparations for the world championships.
Report by Carl Smullen IV Dan, ITA PR Officer
