Bundaberg Cup Review

CUP HIGHLY CONTESTED

Taekwon-Do: Il Shim International Taekwon-do’s Bundaberg Club again played host to the Haden 2011 Bundaberg Cup over the weekend. The “cup” again proved to be a highly sought after piece of silverware with the Gold Coast taking a firm grip to emerge victors with an outstanding 78 points over last years cup winners Agnes Water on 42 points.

This year saw competitors via for positions over 17 divisions from patterns to sparing to power breaking. This years Haden Bundaberg Cup saw a return to the Bundaberg Basketball stadium after 10 years. “it was good to see the stadium filled with a sea of white uniforms” commented Bundaberg’s Senior Instructor Mr Michael McGaw. “it’s been a goal of mine to return to the stadium. Its got every thing we need”

Competitors converged on Bundaberg from as far as the Gold Coast and Rockhampton. “Some of these students have done a day trip just to compete. It just shows the commitment that they have for the art” McGaw Said. “Even more exciting was to have Mr Christensen travel from the Hunter Valley”

Frans Christensen, who is the Head Coach for ITF in Australia, made the trip to the Rum City to oversee proceeding and assess new talent emerging from regional centres. “It gives me a chance to see the standard we have through out the region, some of these students don’t get a chance to travel to some of the bigger events and unfortunately get over looked” Mr Christensen said. “I have identified a few competitors who I will be looking to invite into the Squad for the 2013 World Championships in Spain.”

As well as identifying possible new talent, Mr Christensen conducted Australian Squad training for current members, which saw 30 students, 10 of which were from the local region, put through some training strategies and techniques.

Local competitors flew the Bundaberg Flag high and strong in their respective divisions, which was very pleasing for the local club. “ our students done well today” McGaw said, “all of our squad members took out medals, John Lane took out back to back Male Black Belt Senior Heavy Weight Sparring Titles winning gold, youngsters Stefani Orreal and Alexandria Barbera took 2^nd and 3^rd in Female Middle weight 10^th – 1^st Gup Sparring and 1^st and 3^rd respectively in the Colour Junior 10^th – 6^th Gup Patterns while Renee Williams place 3^rd in the Female Junior Heavy weight 10^th – 1^st Gup sparring with New coming topping of his first year of competition with a 1^st place in Male Senior Middle weight 10^th – 1^st Gup Sparring.

The Male and Female competitor of the tournament was also hot contested with 2 and 3 way ties for 2^nd place with Marica Carr from the Sunshine Coast and Jesse Lusmden from the Gold Coast taking out the Female and Male medals.

Director of Il Shim International Taekwon-do, President of the Oceanic Taekwon-do and board Member of ITF, Master Michael Bou Daher, was very happy with the turn out of events. “Mr McGaw has done a very good job” he said “there were some IT issues at the start but we managed to get over it. The Bundaberg Club has a great future and they will have my full support in what they do. I have always enjoyed coming to Bundaberg. Now with the support of local Business HADEN I think the Bundaberg cup will grow to be very successful. We were still receiving phone calls Friday morning for registrations but unfortunately the draw was done and we couldn’t fit them in. Next year we will have over one hundred competitors” Master Daher commented.

Next years HADEN Bundaberg cup has been pencilled in for Saturday the 10^th November and will be open to everyone and will be run under the ITF rules and Regulations.