XV Junior & XXIV Senior ITF European Championships

24^th-26^th April 2009 Benidorm- Spain

16 competitors travelled to Benidorm on 23^rd April as part of the Scottish Team representing their country at these championships.

Team members were from all over Scotland.

10 members were from UKTF.

Julia Cross IV deg-South Queensferry

Michelle Redmond III deg-Broxburn

Jill Sommerville III deg-Foress

Samantha Merritt II deg-Bathgate

Mark McGeachie II deg-Bathgate

Sean Wheelan I deg-South Queensferry

Lana Thompson I deg- Linlithgow

Maree McDonagh I deg- Foress

Greig Sim I deg- Foress

Michael Leask I deg- Muiriston

The other members from TKD Scotland were-

Andy O’Hare II deg- Aberdeen

Jamie Presly I deg-Aberdeen

Alison Ogley I deg – Aberdeen

Sarah Farren II deg- East Kilbride

Stephanie Willis I deg- East Kilbride

Alexander Gray I deg- East Kilbride

As always the Europeans were well represented from 28 different countries and the standard was very high.

For many of the team members this was their first experience of international competition and one which will stay in their memories for ever.

In total Scotland brought back 1 silver & 5 bronze medal.

Silver medal went to Mark McGeachie from Bathgate in the 2^nd deg male patterns after several rounds against tough opponents being narrowly beaten by England in the final.

Samantha Merritt-Bathgate gained a bronze in female 2^nd deg patterns after being defeated by Norway in the semi finals. This was a great achievement as she has just moved into the senior ranks.

Sean Wheelan- South Queensferry brought back a bronze medal in Traditional sparring along with Mark McGeachie from Bathgate. They were put out in the semi finals to a more experienced Hungarian pair.

This is the first year Scotland have put a team forward for this discipline. A great start for the future.

Julia Cross gained a bronze medal in -58kg sparring which was a huge disappointment for her as she only had Gold in her sight. She fought against Norway, Ireland, Hungry then getting beat by Poland, the eventual winner, in the semi finals in a very close fight which she though she had won. Not to be this time.

Michele Redmond- Broxburn also gained a bronze in -52kg after being put out by Ukraine, the eventual winner.

She fought through rounds with Hungary then Slovenia .

Lana Thomson from Linlithgow brought back Scotland’s first medal in the Special Technique with a bronze.

The female team, which consisted of Team captain Julia Cross, Michelle Redmond, Jill Sommerville, Samantha Merritt, Lana Thompson, Maree McDonough & Alison Ogley narrowly missed out on bronze in both team sparring and power breaking after several play off’s.

The male team was beaten in the team sparring by Germany.

We all hope that this is the start of many more European medals in the future.

Special thanks to Coach Mr. Heath Denholm V deg for all his work over in Spain.