Scottish International Poomsae Championships
The Tallaght club brought a small handful of players to Edinburgh on October 5th to participate in the Scottish International Open Poomsae Championships. Poomsae or ‘patterns’ are the non combative discipline of WTF Taekwondo competition, with major movement in recent years, with prestigious stand alone World & European Championships available to the elite. All young players at the event were 1st timers to travel abroad for technical competition who flew on the day trip alongside tired parents on the red eye flight. The group accompanied Master Taaffe who was invited to event as WTF International Poomsae Judge.
With briefing noted as ‘Experience the goal, medals as bonuses’ the team punched above their weight with all first timers picking up silverware. Adam Nugent, Michal Slowinski managed to win bronze in their respective sections, the tiny pairing of Michaela Byrne & Cian Coughlan won bronze in mixed synchronised pairs (Micheala, 6, referring to her medal as ‘pink’), and the 3 boys Adam, Michal & Cian plucked a bronze in their 3 man team divisions.
Coach Taaffe noted, ‘It was great to see all taking home some silverware, but the real victory was the experience for the players & parents who hopefully will pick up momentum for further events’. Taaffe also secured a 3rd place gold in his senior A Class division.
