SDTKD 1-2-1 – Feb 2018
Tallaght Leisure Centre played host to South Dublin Taekwondo Clubs ‘One to One’ Tournament held last sunday. This event which was billed as a ‘Friendly Event’ was in essence a well dressed training day where athletes from Irish Taekwondo Union Clubs came along to get some additional mat time and test matches. 
The event was hosted by SDTKD black belts as a fundraiser for the club who attracted many competitiors to Tallaght to have matches against the clubs grass root players right throgh to elite level. All fighters were manually paired off to have a match against their most appropiate opponent, in a no winner / no looser match where all took home medals of participation, which for many of the beginners was their first ever taekwondo silverware. Each participant was then welcome to have as many follow on matches as possible until time ran out. Some of the highlights of the day include many
of SDTKD’s
grass roots development players being given the opportunity to shine including Bobby Nugent who had no less than 7 pre arranged matches. 
‘After each friendly match, he just wanted more & more’, noted club Coah Dylan Leonard. Bobby was on the mats while his 2 older brothers ben & David were away with Dad Alan all at a Training Camp in Norway. The family friendly nature of the event was apparrent when all 3 Malecka Siblings Julia, Natalia & Samantha all took to the mat in their Pee We Divisions coached by Dad Mario. Samantha had a spectacular bout with a Chinese visitor to SDTKD, Sopyie Qu who entered the event with her brother Ryan who shortly later departed to Shanghai. Another family trio were in action supporting the event, Seamus, Eamonn & Gwen O’Callaghan
were all getting experience in for preparations for events later in the year. At the higher end of the spectrum SDTKD’s emerging star David Phelan showed why he looks like a force to be reconed with in coming years. David has a strong series of matches inspiriring his beginner team mates on the 5 octoganol shaped mats in use at the event. All proceeds from the event will be
used in some of the projects SDTKD plans for an eventful 2018 which is their 10th year since being founded in 2008 by Robert Taaffe & Niamh Buffini
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