Harrogate & Ripon 1st Summer Competition 23 Jul 2011

By Mark Witty



Harrogate martial arts students are celebrating their club's first ever tournament based in the town.

The Harrogate and Ripon Traditional Tae Kwon Do Association has for many years taken part in the British Championships, held twice a year in Glasgow.

But the club membership has grown to the point where instructor and Third Dan Black Belt Kambiz R. Ali decided Harrogate should have its very own tournament.

The Summer Competition was held at Harrogate High School on Saturday ( July 23) , with divisions for  krugi (sparring) and poomsae (pattern).

Mr Ali, who founded the club in 2005, wanted the competition to be more fun than intensive, but the "tae kwon do spirit" certainly came out with the older competitors.
He said : "This was our first internal competition, and it soon became clear the students who took part wanted to win!
We are the current British TTA champions and you don't get to be best in the country without a huge effort. The Harrogate event was a good way to show those students who have not competed in Glasgow what to expect. It's very hard and very competitive."

 Some of the more senior "junior" black belts were invited to referee fights, giving them invaluable experience in watching the quick-fire kicks and punches needed to gain points. One of the club's longest-serving members, Jordan Swales, now a senior Black Belt aged, gave an impressive demonstration of board breaking - including one which required him to jump over five students and crack the board in mid-air.

Apart from medals for their success, all competitors who took part in the last national competition earlier this year were given congratulatory letters from Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones. Writing to Mr Ali on July 20, he said : "I'm delighted to hear that the whole Harrogate and Ripon team had a successful day. You must be very proud of your team to bring home that excellent amount of medals." Mr Jones added : " I believe you must take a great deal of credit for their success. It is great to see people in our community teaching youngsters sport and helping them develop their skill and technique to win competitions."

The competition was organised and overseen by Mr Ali and Club assistant Murray Jarvis ( Black Belt First Dan)
The coaches for "blue" and "red" competitors were  Martin Squire and Doug Baston. "They did a fantatic job encouraging the students, especially the younger ones who had never fought competitively before," said Mr Ali.

Harrogate TTA Club will try to retain its British Championship trophy in Glasgow in November.
The Traditional Tae Kwon Do Association was founded in 1989 by 9th Dan Black Belt T.K. Loh, one of the most senior Black Belts in the world in any Martial Art.

FULL RESULTS
 
For Sparring
Kids 10th kup
1- Benjamin Rowen Gold
2-Naimh Currie  Silver
3-Felix Butterworth Bronze
4-Evan Hill Bronze
 
Kids under 38kg
1- Ella Witty Gold
2- Guy Burlinson Silver
3- Jacob Ibbotson Bronze
4- Thomas Peakman Bronze
 
Kids under 30kg
1- Adam Barratt Gold
2- Scott Ray Silver
3- Cezary Smith Bronze
 
Senior male 6th kup to 4th kup
1- Thomas Henley Gold
2- Martin Squire Silver
3- Owen Cream Bronze
 
Seniore female 2nd kup to 1st poom
1- Bethan Holley Gold
2- Beth Bird Silver
3- Hannah Karpuk  Bronze
 
Senior male 10kup to 7th kup
1- Jason Hill Gold
2- Sa'ndor Jakob Silver and Gold in Pattern
 
For Pattern
Kids 10th kup
1- Felix Butterworth Gold
2-Benjamin Rowen Silver
3- Evan Hill Bronze
4-Cezary Smith Bronze
5- Naimh Currie Bronze

For 7th kup
1- Doug Baston Gold
2- Jacob Ibbotson Silver
 
For 5th kup and 6th kup
1- Owen Cream Gold
2-Guy Burlison Silver
3- Thomas Henley Bronze
4- Thomas Henley Bronze
 
For 4th kup
1- Martin Squire Gold
2-Scott Ray Silver
 
For 2nd kup to 1st kup
1-Bethan Holley Gold
2- Adam Barrett Silver
3- Thomas Peakman Bronze
4- Hannah Karpuk Bronze
 
1st poom and 1st dan
1- Jordan Swales Gold
2- Beth Bird Silver
 

Trainee Referee
1-Jordan Swales 1st Dan
2- Beth Bird 1st Poom
3- Ella Witty 1st poom
4- Bethan Holley 1st Kup
5- Adam Barrett 1st Kup

Official list
Club founder and instructor K.R.Ali
Club assistant Murray Jarvis
Club press officer Mark Witty
Club photographer Susan Bird
Club first adider Jason Hill & Christin Barrett
Coach for Blue team Martin Squire
Coach for Red team Doug Baston