Newsletter Newsletter 1/2017 INTA 18th Open International

The Irish National Taekwon do Association held the 18th Open International ITF Taekwon do Championships on the 4th & 5th of February 2017 at Aras Preston Gormanstown Sports Complex, County Meath, the longest running ITF tournament in Europe.  The whole event was a huge success with more than 600 competitors from Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, Norway and USA competing over the two days.

The event started on Saturday at 10am with 450 children up to 15 years competing in 7 rings with special technique (overhead kick) for 12 and younger then moving to patterns and sparring competition.

On Sunday it was time for the senior competition, more than 150 competitors including all black belts and colour belts from 16 years and older competed in patterns, sparring and veterans (40+) sparring divisions and power competition in six rings.

It was also a great privilege for the INTA to have a great number of Grandmasters and Masters attend as special guests at our championships. On Saturday evening the INTA hosted a private dinner with our special guest Grandmasters, Masters and visiting Senior Instructors. This was a great opportunity to socialise with old friends and to make new friends.

• Grandmaster Weiller from Germany Senior Vice President of ITF
• Grandmaster Seriff from USA
• Grandmaster Martin from USA
• Master O’Toole 8th degree INTA President
• Master Douglas 8th degree INTA Vice President
• Master Vanberghen 8th degree from Belgium
• Master Nicolaisen 8th degree President of ITF Norway
 
• Master Nicolaisen 8th degree President of ITF Norway
• Master Sutherland 8th degree from Scotland
• Master Dunbar 8th degree from Scotland, Chairman AETF tournament & Umpire committee
• Master Howard 8th degree from Ireland 
• Master Martin 8th degree from Ireland
• Master Donnelly 7th degree from Ireland 
• Master Moormeir 7th degree from USA
• Master Johnson 7th degree from USA
• Master Franks 7th degree, President of AITF (Ireland)
• Master Doyle 7th degree from Ireland.

Also special guests Ms Annick van Driessche 6th degree President of ITF Belgium, Ms Fox 6th degree from USA, Ms Joanne Healy 5th degree from USA and Mr Leo Maguire 5th degree President of UKTC Northern Ireland.

We would like to thank all of the people who contributed to making this event such a great success: The Umpire committee and all the umpires, coaches, competitors and the volunteers who help setting up the arena and of course the INTA tournament committee Mr Nigel Stobie 6th degree, Nicola Bergin 4th degree, Jeroen Wezelman 3rd degree & Liam Carberry 2nd degree who spent months working towards making this a successful event.

We also hope that all our guests enjoyed our tournament and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Yours in Taekwon do,
Nigel Stobie 6th degree,
INTA Tournament & Umpire Committee.