Newsletter Newsletter 3/2017 North East Challenge Cup

NORTH EAST CHALLENGE CUP (NECC) 2017, Aberdeen, NE Scotland
Saturday 16th September saw NTA Scotland host its 8th North East Challenge Cup. The event was held high up in the North East of Scotland in Aberdeen and was the third year being held in the Aberdeen Sports Village, Aberdeen’s premier sporting venue.

2017 saw our largest entry of 347 competitors from 23 schools. We had a truly fantastic representation not just from all over Scotland but also from those representing both the Scottish National and Allied Associations. In addition, ITF England competitors from the North East of England attended and we were happy to receive visitors from extended Taekwon-Do groups out with the mainstream ITF.

This event was open to students from 10th Kup to 6th Degree with our youngest competitor at six years old and the eldest at over fifty years. The NECC contested Pattern, Sparring, Pre-Arranged Sparring, Power and Special Technique events spread over 125 divisions with five matted areas, one Power Test and three Special Technique areas.

The 2017 NECC was privileged to have AETF Tournament and Umpire Chairman Master Sandy Dunbar VIII, Master Mark Hutton VIII, AETF Board Member Master Philip Lear VII and Master Robin Blair VII present as dignitaries. We were also privileged to have Master Lear offer his services as an Umpire for the day. Not to be outdone, Master Hutton and Master Dunbar were overwhelmed with a desire to umpire with Master Hutton assisting with 4th degree patterns and Master Dunbar scoring some sparring matches. Very honoured indeed!

Controlling our competitors were thirty-one full-time and twenty part-time umpires. We were also very happy to welcome Miss Elena Shutova IV from London to our Umpire Team. To keep our umpires fuelled, ringside coffee, snacks and home-baking was available along with lunch and additional treats in the afternoon. Master Hutton thought there was a competition as to how much Scottish tablet any one person could eat and he was serious about winning!

To ensure the event run on time and to keep the competitors, coaches and parents informed, we had our Ring Schedule available online and on display throughout the arena. The day started at 09:00 with the opening address and awarding of the participation or “bravery” medals for all competitors under thirteen years of age As soon as the power was cut on the microphone, the tournament could finally start at 09:45 with the Junior Patterns for under nines, whilst Teens and Seniors competed in their Power and Special Technique events.

The Teens and Senior pattern divisions followed and during that time some of the juniors divisions competed in their Special Techniques events. 2017 NECC also saw our Pre-Arranged sparring teams rise to eleven, contested over three divisions.

All Kup grade sparring continued throughout the day and in between, the Umpires were treated to a buffet lunch with home-made soup, sandwiches and more home baking.

The Kup grades competition concluded at around 15:00 and the hall was re-arranged for the blackbelt events. Blackbelt competitors contested all five events over thirty-six divisions and the ring schedule was concluded on time at 18:20.

NTA Scotland bid farewell to our visitors and wished them a safe journey home. We would like to thank everyone for their support of this event and look forward to seeing them return in 2018.

On reflection sometimes we have to step back and realise what a special martial art we belong to and what a special sport has developed from within it and so often over the years we have taken it for granted. How many sporting events can have a 6yr old beginner compete at the same event as a four time European Champion and whose own efforts go towards their school’s medal tally. In some instances we had male and female competitors competing directly with each other (patterns) and outcome was based directly on their ability rather than their gender, strength or physicality.

Taekwon-Do crosses so many boundaries. We should be very proud to be a part of it

On behalf of NTA Organising Committee,
Master Gordon Wallace VIII