2013 TAGB Scottish Open At Ravenscraig

Having missed the World Championships this year I was really looking forward to the Scottish Open at Ravenscraig Sports Centre. With a bit of a rainy start (East Kilbride turnoff on the M77 could barely be seen!) we arrived just before 9am to get our entry tickets. This time round it was only three members of "Team Harley" (Teagan, Ieuan and myself) competing as Karen was in her role as umpire. Along with us we had a few new competitors from Prestwick & Ayr clubs in the form Thomas Murphy and father and son team Craig and Dylan Nutt. We also had Katie Walker coming out of "retirement" and of course, had our "old hands" at competition with Connor Mulgrew, Mikey McDowall.

Craig's entry was for yellow belt patterns and no sooner than the competition opened and he was called to his area to compete. What can I say....the boy did good and came away with a bronze medal! An excellent result from his first competition.

Craig's 1st competition and 1st medal... bet it's not his last!

Men's Yellow Belt Competitors... well done guys!

Ieuan and Dylan and what seemed like a never ending stream of green belt boys were next for their patterns competition. The referee for this was the well known TAGB face of Warren Vice. I was also competing at the same time, so before and after doing my pattern I was able to see how the boys were getting along. All these wee guys did great and I know they all learn and improve from each competition they do. Warren was great with the youngsters and very encouraging, he made sure each competitor received a huge round of applause after their pattern which I'm sure boosted their confidence.

Dylan performing Yul-Gok

Ieuan performing Won Hyo

Meanwhile in my own patterns (green belt) competition I'd drawn for 3rd place with big Maxi (Jonathan Maxwell) from Uddingston. Maxi's a great guy and I look forward to seeing him again at the next competition. He's good and sharp with his patterns too, I just managed to scrape the bronze for this. In the process of this event I learnt a lot. Big shout to the gold and silver medallists in this event I didn't catch their names and didn't chat with them for long but as with everyone else I meet in the TAGB they're enthusiastic and very sportsmanlike in their attitude.

Me performing opening movements to Yul-Gok

Green Belt Men's Competitors (big Maxi to far left of shot)

After my competition was up Teagan was called for her own pattern competition (girls red belt). Now first off apologies as I'm going to ramble but this was one of those "proud daddy" moments. All us dads have been there, I'm just fortunate to be able to put it in online in writing! I was sitting with Simon Littlejohn (Auchinleck Club) whose daughter Olivia was also competing along with Teagan in this section. Here's a couple of photos to start with and then I'll ramble on some more...

Teagan performing opening move to Hwa Rang

Olivia performing opening move to Hwa Rang

Olivia and Teagan - do you think they are enjoying themselves??

Olivia did her pattern in her usual excellent and well executed manner I've seen her perform before, I'm sure Simon was also having a "proud daddy" moment as well. Teagan was up right after. Now I've seen Teagan perform Hwa Rang loads of times at training sessions but nothing... and I mean NOTHING.. prepared me for her competition performance. Both Simon and I watched and were both taken aback with the complete focus and concentration on her face. She really want it and she totally nailed it!! After all the girls had had performed in this group we found out that Teagan had tied for 1st place so had to go again. And again, she nailed it, but we still had no idea at the time how she had finally placed. The ref called out the bronze medal winner...... then the silver and at that moment I was watching Teagan and her face just lit up as she realised she had won the gold! As I said, proud daddy moment... but I also have to say big thanks to Kulwant Chahal, our beloved (can I say that here??) instructor for all his patience, encouragement and effort with her... I know sometimes she has him pulling his hair out (as do we all, don't we SIR!!). Teagan was sparring soon after this, she didn't get any medals but she sparred the best I've seen her do, she very nearly got through.. thanks for her improvement in this go to Scott McMillan.. we'll see you on Sunday Sir... well, Teagan will.. I'll be on the bench as usual!

With "Team Harley" entries completed it was time to see how our other team mates were doing... now I wasn't able to get round everyone but here are a few photos and results from Prestwick and Ayr, and a few photos from other Phoenix section kindly donated by various people.

Connor Mulgrew had been bumped from light to middle weight at the last moment due to him having grown half a centimetre overnight, he fought a cracker though and came away with a bronze in individual and a gold for tag team sparring. Connor picked up a bit of an injury to his ribs during his matches and at time of writing he's recovering so LIGHT TRAINING ONLY!! At least that's what his mum, dad, Mr Chahal, doctor and all his team mates have ordered.

Forget the floats... he just stings!

Great effort in his first middle weight sparring

 

Gold for tag!

Mikey McDowall also came away with a bronze for individual and a gold in his tag team sparring event and in the process picked up a beauty of a black eye. Evidence of how hard he fought his matches. Another good result, well done m'lad!

Three shiners... one gold, one bronze, one eye!

Katie Walker fought her to a bronze medal in the girls black belt tag team. Well done Katie it was great to see you back in action again. Hope to see you competing at the Scottish Closed as well!

Girl power!

Its great to see youngsters giving things a go for the first time. I'd like to mention a young man here, Thomas Murphy, who great courage getting into the ring for his first ever competition spar. He gave it his all and I know he's learnt something which he can take to his next competition.

 Well done all, Scottish closed coming up 5th October so we've got that to look forward to! And remember the grading is on 28th and 29th September so a lot happening end of this and start of next month.

For those of me that have me on their friends list on Facebook or follow the TAGB Facebook page, theres a rather large selection of photos in an album I've shared if you want a look. Thanks again goes to my roving photographers, Kiran Chahal and Teagan Harley. I'll no doubt be borrowing you again soon!

Now while I mostly got photos of Prestwick & Ayr competitors, I did manage to get a few from some of the other clubs as well. I was also sent a few photos to add in here. If you are wanting photos taken at competition, just come up and ask... I don't bite and am quite happy to snap away for inclusion in this blog or on facebook or even if you just want something for yourself. Also quite happy to include your own photos as its hard for me to get round every area when I'm also competing. Just drop me a message :)

Ladies Black Belt Tag Teams, gold and silver medal winners

Men's Black Belt Tag Teams, gold and silver medal winners

Watch out East End boys as its the
West End Girls (minus Lana Mohammed)

Girls Lightweight Tag Team Medal Winners

Boys Medal Winners from Middleweight Tag Team

Quite a few new competitors from Phoenix clubs, great to see people stepping up to try competition. So here's a special mention to all of you and well done! I'm sure you all gained valuable experience and more confidence from this.

From Irvine we had Emma Jennings, Michael Love, Kinnon Wright, Abigail Smyth and Mason Campbell.
Pollok newbies were Holly Webb and John Pitt.
Auchenleck first timers were Fiona McKinnon, Adeline Collins, Jack Colville, Robert Wright and Michael Wright.
Glasgow West End had Maya Kedilty, Aiesha Qaissomi, Kristina Hynes and Lana Mohammed in their first competition.
Kilmarnock had one new team member in the shape of Povilas Vinciauskas.
Everyone from Dunlop, Irvine Valley & Rutherglen, this was their first competition so well done to Scott Mc Bride, Euan Stewart, Tom Fillon, Melanie Gorrie and Graeme Rennie.
Prestwick & Ayr new competitors were Thomas Murphy, Craig Nutt and Dylan Nutt.

Now, I feel here that there's another load of people to thank and that's the parents of the children competing. You bring your kids to training each week. You travel with them all over to the various competitions (sometimes outside the UK and fighting through snow and rain and wind.... that's in the UK of course!), you support them and their team... you are also a big part of what makes this happen. Thank you.

I'm busy getting the clubs medal results together and that will be posted just as soon as I've got them all and from the instructors. As a parting shot, I think Mr Vice had better watch out, there's a new kid on the block and he really packs a wallop!

Dylan Nutt shows Warren Vice how its done!