RL_Taekwondo

On Sunday, 9th April, students from Rayners Lane
Taekwon-do Academy travelled to Kent to take part
in Kick It 2000 Open Taekwon-do Tournament,
which attracted around 200 competitors from all over
the UK. Students from the club ranged from aged 7
to adult, with many juniors taking part, All in all the
club entered nine students (plus the instructor) &
brought home thirteen medals, which included four
golds.

The junior divisions (under 16's) were up first and
were well contested. Zoe Bennett won a bronze
medal after a tie with some of the other competitors
(including her sister Toni) in the junior yellow belt patterns division and Kyle Augustine won a bronze medal in the junior blue belt patterns division.

The second section of the day was devoted to free sparring. In the Junior Boys division (Yellow/Green belts) Lloyd Lewis fought his way to the finals to win a gold medal (he's only 8), In the Junior Girls division the club cleaned up with Zoe Bennett winning Gold (her second medal of the day), Lauren Read taking the Silver in a closely fought final, with Jade Harris & Toni Bennett having to settle for Bronze medals each. Then in the Junior Boys Blue/Red belts division, Kyle Augustine won his second medal of the day, settling for Bronze after some hard fought bouts.

In the adults divisions Kate Barry fought her way to the finals against numerous opponents to take another Gold for the club. Also earlier in the day the Clubs instructor (Stuart Anslow) fought in the Mens Black Belt Division (middle weight), only to face an old club mate in the final. Both himself & Derrick Clarke (Wembley TKD) fought round after round of extra time after continuously drawing, finally ending up with Derrick taking silver & Stuart taking the converted gold. Derrick got his revenge though by taking the silver in the Black Belt patterns after a fine performance, with Stuart being the runner up this time.

A special mention to students Christopher Hopkins, Michael Bennett (both from Rayners Lane), Andrew Niknik and Maurace Creagh (from Wembley) who gave fine performance, but were unlucky.