Ireland win 3 Silver & 1 Bronze at 21st Senior and 12th Junior European Taekwon-Do Championships, 28.09. - 01.10.2006, Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki played host to the 21st Senior & 12th Junior European Taekwon-Do Championships from 28 September to the 1 October. 28 countries took part which is a new record. Ireland had 5 competitors from the RITA participating, David Freeman, Martin Mahoney, Deidre Gahan and Denise Hanrahan in the senior event with Cathy Byrne competing in the juniors. The squad were accompanied by Head Coach Mr Stephen Doyle 5th Degree and Mr Robert Howard 6th Degree as Umpire. Master Paul Kavanagh was there as part of the AETF Executive.

David Freeman, from St Marks, competing in his first senior event repeated his double medal tally from the Junior World Championships which took place in July. David won Silver in 1st Degree Black Belt Patterns beating France, Spain and Russia before losing 3-2 to the Czech Republic in the final. In the -57Kg Sparring David picked up his second silver by defeating Norway and Greece on the way to the final with the Russian favourite. In a close three round match the Russian edged out David on points in the 3rd round after drawing the previous two. With his two silvers David came 7th in the overall ranking and gave Ireland a top 8 finish. David also made it to the finals of the Special Technique but unfortunately missed out on a medal.

Irelands third Silver came early on day 3 with Denise Hanrahan (Carrick-on-Suir) in the Female +75Kg Sparring division. After defeating the much more experienced Czech the night before Denise had a very exciting three round final against the Greek home favourite. Competing in her first International Championships she did excellent to push the Greek all the way to the end. Denise also made it through to the final round of the female power competition but an injury meant she was unable to get in to the medal positions.

In the Female -75Kg Sparring division Deidre Gahan (Carrick-on-Suir) also competing for the first time lost out to the Russian in the semi final. After drawing the match it went to extra time where the Russians experience got her the win.

Also competing in his first championships was Martin Mahoney (Galway) who took part in the -71 Kg Sparring and Power events, losing to the much more experienced English competitor. Cathy Byrne from Old Bawn had no favours in the Junior female 1st Degree Black Belt Patterns when she came up against the eventual Gold medallist and Overall Junior Champion from the Czech Republic in the first round. Cathy also competed in the -58Kg Junior female sparring losing out to Greece.

There was also celebration for Mr Howard who received the award for best Umpire of the Championships.

Semi final against Russia

Final against Czech

David and Pedro

Opening Ceremony

Silver in Patterns

Cathy against Greece

Deidre doing Special Technique

Denise breaking boards and her arm!

Bronze for Deidre

Denise winning Silver

Davids Silver in Sparring

At least she's not Scottish david!