8th ITF Junior World Championships Geelong, Australia 2006

 The long road to Australia started back in November 2005 when the trials were held to select Team UK 2006 for the 8th ITF Junior World Championships. Since then an immense amount of work has gone into both arranging the trip and making sure that competitors received the best possible training and preparation in order to maximize their chances at the championships.

 Over 40 Team UK competitors from England, Scotland and Wales along with Masters, coaches and family members flew out to Geelong between the 9th and 11th of September arriving absolutely shattered after a journey of well over 24 hours. The first few days of the trip were spent recovering from the gruelling journey and sharpening up both team and individual patterns. It was also a good opportunity for members of different UKITF organizations to get to know each other better, all of which added to the electric atmosphere once the tournament got under way.

 Tournament host Mr Michael Muleta VI Degree opened the championships as teams from all corners of the globe entered the arena and lined up in front of ITF President Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa IX Degree and Masters from around the world. After the opening speeches and ceremony were completed the competition itself could begin.

 All individual patterns medals were decided on day 1 along with four sparring categories, girls’ patterns sections were first and Team UK started strongly winning gold in the 1st and 2nd degree sections, silver in the 3rd degree section as well as a bronze in the 2nd degree section. This achievement was all the more impressive as three of the four of the medal winners were competing in their first world championships. In the boys’ patterns there was further success with Team UK winning gold and silver in the 3rd degree section and bronze in the 2nd degree section. A fantastic day for Team UK was completed with medals in all four of the sparring categories decided that day, 2 gold’s, 2 silvers and a bronze. Nick Gardener, Jenny Francis and Roxanne Symes all won their second medals of thve day, with Nick defending the title that he won in Korea. This was the start of a very special championship for the Gardener family. Having arrived at the arena at around 9am a weary Team UK got back at their hotels after 10pm that night and after a quick bite to eat everyone headed to bed to recharge for the rest of the competition.

 On day 2 the remaining individual sparring medals were decided and the elimination rounds for the team patterns and sparring categories were also completed. Team UK fighters won a further 11 medals from just 6 categories with Esme Hyde, Mitchell Ross and Adam Gardener all crowned World Champions in their respective divisions. All 3 performed fantastically with Esme winning gold in her first World Championships, Mitchell claiming his second medal in as many days after a bronze in patterns and Adam matching his brothers sparring gold from the previous day. In the team eliminations both the boys and girls made it through in the sparring and patterns divisions meaning that they would be back on the final day of competition. Day 2 finished with the medal ceremonies for all of the individual patterns and sparring categories. By the end of the evening everyone in the arena must have known the words to God Save the Queen it was played that many times! The large British contingent ensured that all Team UK medal winners received a massive ovation and the whole ceremony was a fitting climax to the second day of competition.

 After 2 long days of competition Team UK competitors, coaches and supporters all arrived at the arena on day 3 tired and most with sore throats but ready for one last days competition/cheering. Before the conclusion of the team events the individual power and special techniques divisions took place. Nick Gardener took his third gold of the Championships winning the boys power division with Steven “Steve O” Watson winning silver in power to go with a bronze in specials. Not to be outdone the girls’ team took a silver and 2 bronzes in the girls’ special techniques. Roxanne Symes silver was her third medal of the championships to go with gold in sparring and silver in patterns. In the team events the boys took a gold, 2 silvers and a bronze with the girls’ teams taking a gold and 2 silvers.

 The climax of both team events was the sparring divisions with both the boys and girls teams making the final. Having beaten a very strong Australian team in the semi-finals the girls team wasted little time in the final winning the first 3 matches to take an unassailable 3-0 lead and claim the gold. The noise around the arena from all of the England supporters was deafening and the victory finished off a fantastic tournament for the girls team. The boys’ team also faced the Argentina in the final in what was a much closer affair. After claiming the opening match Argentina’s boys fought very cagily to try and maintain their lead but England battled back superbly to take it to a 5th and final match. Mitchell Ross put on a brave display against a far taller and heavier opponent but unfortunately the decision went the way of Argentina and England had to settle for silver on this occasion. With all of the medals decided it was time for the remaining medal ceremonies and then the presentation of the overall winners.

There was double success for Team UK with Nick Gardener of England and Roxanne Symes of Wales receiving the awards for best individual male and female respectively. Both the boys and girls teams narrowly missed out on the best team award to Argentina and Australia respectively but should still be extremely proud of what they achieved. Finally it was time for the presentation of the award for the most successful country and for the first time in ITF World Championships history it was England! UKITF head coach Master Mark Ogborne collected the trophy and then beckoned all of Team UK’s competitors and coaches onto the podium to join in the celebration – the party could now well and truly begin!

 With all the presentations completed it was time for the closing speeches by Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa and Mr Michael Muleta. Mr Muleta finished off by passing on the responsibility for organizing the next World Championships to our very own Master Trevor Nicholls and wishing UKITF luck in hosting the event.

 This was UKITF's most successful World Championships ever for which everyone involved deserves congratulation. The results speak for themselves with regards the competitors but those involved behind the scenes often go unnoticed and need to be recognised as well. Firstly, the coaches involved have given a lot of their time to attend the squad training sessions and the worked tirelessly in Australia to make sure that Team UK’s competitors were well looked after. Those involved in organizing the trip and in particular team manager Mr Mark Skyrme need to be thanked for their all of their hard work as do the 4 officials who made the long trip to Australia. All of the instructors and family members who travelled to Australia should be thanked for their support along with everyone back in England who organized or participated in the many fund raising events that have taken place over the past months. Finally thank you to all of UKITF’s Masters and organisations heads for making everything possible.

 My abiding memory of this World Championships was the way that everyone pulled together for the good of our competitors in both the build up to and whilst in Australia. Win or Lose every single competitor received a massive ovation when they returned to the Team UK section of the crowd which added to the feeling that the team was far more important than any one individual. With England winning the overall best country award it’s my opinion that every single person involved returned home a World Champion! The UKITF is stronger now than it has ever been and as long as individuals and member groups continue to work together then we will continue to go from strength to strength.

 Until August 2007 in Birmingham, Taekwon!

AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006

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