Newsletter Newsletter 1/2015 16th INTA Open Tournament
A.E.T.F. REPORT
Newsletter 1/2015
16th INTA Open Tournament

More than 500 competitors took to the ring at the National Basketball Arena, Dublin to make the 16th INTA Open International Taekwon-Do Tournament the most successful to date.

Participants came from all over Ireland, representing clubs from the INTA, ITA, RITA and ITF (Eireann). They were joined by 80 competitors from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Belgium.

Seven masters attended the event, including INTA President Master O'Toole (VIII degree) and INTA Vice-President Master Douglas (VIII degree); Master Sutherland (VIII degree) visiting from Scotland, Master Vanberghen (VIII degree) visiting from Belgium; Master Martin (VII degree) from the INTA, and both Master O'Rourke (VII degree) and Master Franks (VII) from the Waterford ITF. A special welcome was also given to INTA National Secretary Ms Troy (V degree), Mr Leo Maguire (V degree) from Northern Ireland and Mrs Cameron (IV degree) from Scotland who accompanied a number of their students to this event.

Over 100 different categories were contested over the weekend, with impressive Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded for the winners of each category. Junior colour belts up to 15 years of age took the floor at 10am on Saturday to compete first in special technique, then patterns and sparring. Their commitment, enthusiasm and skill was great to see, and even though they couldn’t all be medal winners, everyone gained from the experience.

Blackbelts and senior colour belts competed on Sunday, weighing in at 9am and starting their patterns competitions at 10, followed by sparring and finally power competitions – these combined to offer a great display of speed, accuracy and fitness to the many spectators throughout the day.

Congratulations must go to the many INTA instructors and members who helped to organise the tournament - including Mr Nigel Stobie (VI degree); Mr Alan Troy (VI degree); Mr John Ng (V degree); Mr Tom Smyth (IV degree); Mr Jeroen Wezelman (III degree) and Mr Liam Carberry (II degree) for their hard work and planning in advance, which allowed the event to run so smoothly and efficiently. Many thanks to all the umpires too, who gave up their weekend to help out. INTA President Master Brendan O’Toole was delighted with the overall success of the event – “ Moving the Open back to Dublin certainly has met with a very positive response, evidenced both from the high numbers competing from Ireland and abroad, and from the feedback we received throughout the two days. In particular, the location was much appreciated by our visitors from abroad. The INTA will continue to build on this successful event, as we look forward to another great year of Taekwon-Do in 2015.


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