ITF European Championships 2009

The Scotland Team travelled to Benidorm on 23^rd April to compete in the 15^th Junior and 24^th Senior ITF European Championships. The UKTF was represented by 10 of the 16 members of the Team:

Miss Julia Cross 4^th Deg, South Queensferry; Miss Michelle Redmond 3^rd Deg, Broxburn; Miss Jill Sommerville 3^rd Deg, Foress; Miss Samantha Merritt 2^nd Deg, Bathgate; Mr Mark McGeachie 2^nd Deg, Bathgate; Mr Sean Wheelan 1^st Deg, South Queensferry; Miss Lana Thompson 1^st Deg, Linlithgow; Miss Maree McDonagh 1^st Deg, Foress; Mr Greig Sim 1^st Deg, Foress and Mr Michael Leask 1^st Deg, Muiriston.

The Championships were well represented from 28 different countries and as always 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 medals.

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

Miss Samantha Merritt from Bathgate won 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.

Mr Sean Wheelan from South Queensferry and Mr Mark McGeachie from Bathgate brought back a bronze medal in Traditional Sparring. 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.

Miss Julia Cross won a bronze medal in -58kg Sparring. She fought against Norway, Ireland and Hungary but was eventually beaten by Poland, the overall winner, in a closely fought semi-final.

Miss Michele Redmond from Broxburn won a bronze in -52kg Sparring, fighting through to the semi finals where she lost to the eventual winner from the Ukraine.

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

The Female Team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in both Team Sparring and Power Breaking.

The Male Sparring Team lost out to a strong German Team in the first round.

Congratulations to all the Squad Members who have trained hard over the last year. We hope that this is the start of many more International medals.

Special thanks to Coaches Mr Heath Denholm 5^th Deg, Miss Katja Hansen 3^rd Deg and Team Manager Miss Julia Cross 4^th Deg for all their work over the last year.