Full report - October 2008

Well the training had been done, suits had been washed and cleaned and the sparring gear was waiting. It was time. But first was the set up which takes place every year in ALSAA with the great help of the DCU school and the Rolestown school helping to prepare the hall with Mr. Farrell's schools, a few minor mishaps but the place was perfectly laid out and ready to go!

So first up on Saturday morning were the black belt sparring and breaking categories. These hosted all the male and female black belts showing all their hard work with some excellent sparring from our senior grades including a magnificent performance by AIMAA's newest master, Master John Kirkwood, and also some great skill from our new line of black belts really putting the pressure on the more experienced black belts. Here our own instructor Mr. Daniel Farrell was put through two tough fights in a round robin style play-off for the title, and came out victorious. So far, one for one, a perfect start to our competition campaign. Then, onto the breaking, and with freshly cut boards this category would test even the hardest of competitors. More bones and joints we're destroyed than boards, but again a sturdy attempt form Master Kirkwood breaking 2 out of his 4 boards was enough to secure him the title. Again taking part was Mr. Farrell with a hardy attempt that could have potentially broken the wall, but the boards did not yield, and a damaged heel was the prize for his attempts. So onto the coloured belts the competition and the black belts were free to ref and judge all day without the worries of them having to compete afterwards.

First up was Ms. Nora O'Brien, nervous and psyched up for her challenge, straight to the final where Nora showed her skill and excellent physical abilities put points onto the clickers, more than a single punch to the head would, but unfortunately two of the judges saw fit to give it to other fighter. However, the fight was spotted by both Chief referee and tournament organiser and Nora was given the gold. On the next ring at the same time, Ms. Aoife O'Brien was given the gold medals for busting into her opposition like rocky into hanging meat, securing the clubs third gold out of 4 categories! The breaking for these two fighters was next which saw them compete against each other, and again the Gold was brought back to DCU from Nora O'Brien, and a solid attempt from Aoife in a second place play off. 4 gold's and it was only 3 o'clock . Next up was Philip Lowney for his sparring which saw him placed against the GB, Scottish and Irish champion, but still Philip gave it socks ( as he always does) and came out of his category in 2 nd place. He did not disappoint in his next category which was straight over to the destruction area and beat his 2 nd place finish in last years destruction with the gold. Also up on the breaking area was Emer O'Brien with a glorious first destruction competition bringing home the silver. Unfortunately Ger Breen had the flu and was unable to compete on the Saturday, and his competitors were lucky not to encounter the 4 foot legs of Ger Breen!!

Onto the Sunday's events, and again starting off with the black belts to free them for judging. And again Mr Farrell started us off with an excellent display of one legged patterns having seriously damaged his heel on the boards the day before. Despite his injuries he was called out to do his pattern again and won the play off to finish in 2 nd place behind the epic display from Mr. Andrew Butler (how we all wish we had his legs). Next was the 1 st and 2 nd degree black belts and a fantastic display of power, speed and unbelievable control from Mr J Kirkwood was the outright winner showing that the Scottish competitors didn't travel all this way for nothing. So onto the one steps sparring and Mr. Farrell was paired with his brother and organiser James Farrell. This was more physical than the sparring and proved that the one steps are a very effective method of self defence, however the pair would have to settle for second place as two young entrants from the Airport school came out with a miraculous display of timing and self control to beat black belts of 20 years! Finally the team patterns came and the Farrell pair joined with Mr. Jay King to lose out on a 3rd place replay battle to Ms Doreen Byrne's team to finish 4th!

So onto the traditional coloured belts which saw a huge standard from kids and adults alike. Up first was Emer O'Brien with her pattern which against a good opposition earned her a well deserved first place. She also went in last minute to find a partner for the one step sparring and won a 3rd place battle to walk away with a bronze medal. Next up were Gerard Breen and Philip Lowney in the same patterns category, and with tough opposition they gave it their best but unluckily weren't placed, but came out with bronze and silver with different partners in the one steps sparring! And finally were Nora and Aoife who cleared up their patterns division with a gold and bronze, and Siobhan O'Brien coming in 2nd place.

A great weekend was had by all, a huge medal count for DCU with 15 medals for 6 competitors. Massive well done to all and let's keep pushing!

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