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Competition Report
Martial Arts Network Super Series III – 1st November 2009
The eagerly awaited London Version of the MA Network Super Series finally arrived on Sunday 1st November 2009. PROACTION took a 48 strong contingent of competitors down to Wembley to do battle against the best of the rest.
Other groups participating Included ITF Wales, BUTF, DMA Taekwon-Do, DMA Kickboxing, Palcic TKD and more!
With a long day ahead, the competition arenas had been set up the night before. The morning session with draws and weigh ins was always set to be chaotic as there were over 350 entrants to this years event, a 200% increase in the entrants for the same event in 2008.
Once all this was out the way, the Little Leaders (age 4 to 6) were up first. Waiting patiently on ring one, demonstrating great focus and having fun were over 20 aged 4 to 6 year olds itching for their first ever martial arts medals.
Competing in the High kicking category, all the Little Leaders achieved kick heights in excess of their own head height and it was clear that competition would be tough, especially with only one medal for this category. . PROACTION students progressed well, notably Shay Poole from PROACTION Bedford demonstrating fantastic potential, progressing to the very late rounds, despite being one of the smaller children in the division and we were finally left with one (very tall) Little Leader from Wales vs. Joshua Muscutt-Brown from PROACTION Duston. Both missed their first attempt at the new height and had to go again. The competitor from Wales missed again, and with the pressure piled on Joshua, he kept his cool and kicked the target to the roar of the crowed. The first medal of the day, Gold in colour, and to PROACTION.
Up next was the Little Leader forms. PROACTION completely dominated this category, with only one non-PROACTION member making it to the semi-finals stages, and this was a Black Belt Little Leader from DMA. PROACTION proved just too strong in the final, with the Gold going to Toby Fulker, PROACTION Wellingborough.
The Little Leaders category was over, all received a participation medals, all were very happy, and the theme was set for the day, 3 out of all 4 medals going to PROACTION.
On with the Junior Patterns division. Some fantastic performances showed the true quality and potential at PROACTION. Results are still being collated at PROACTION for this category, and will be posted a.s.a.p.
During this time, the adult Kickboxing was taking part in a neighbouring hall. PROACTION were out numbered in the heavy weight division, and Warren Berry was moved down from the Veterans category to compete with the over 18’s. An outstanding performance saw Warren receive Bronze, losing out to a Black Belt seasoned competitor in the final, but only after pushing him from a draw to an extra 30 second tie break round. The middleweight division was hotly contested with PROACTION completely dominant, receiving our first 1,2,3 of the day! Bronze went to first time competitor Mark Heaton, who only received his pads on the morning of the competition, Silver to Mr. R Nicholson, and Gold to Mr. G. Shaw, instructor at PROACTION Kickboxing NSG, Northampton.
Junior Kickboxing was also dominated by PROACTION members, with the Heavyweight Silver going to Stanley Berry, Middle Weight Gold to Alfie Berry, and light weight Gold to Tam Luu.
On with the junior Taekwon-Do sparring......
This category had the most students, but on ratio, the least from PROACTION. Still, some outstanding performances saw medals coming through. In the high grades, a mix up in weight categories saw Tam Luu miss out early on, a shock for most watching, but Alfie Berry stepped up in the middle weights to add a second Gold to his haul for Continuous TKD Sparring.
Low grade sparring results are still coming in to PROACTION and will be reported on a.s.a.p.
Now, it was time for the adult females. Two words, TOTAL DOMINATION! PROACTION won every adult female medal, including patterns (high grade Gold to Bex Timms, Northampton and low grade Gold to Elizabeth Ewang, Bedford), Sparring, (Light weight Gold to Della McGowan (Wellingborough), Heavy weight Gold to Bex Timms (Northampton)), and Destruction (Hand to Donna Minett (Wellingborough), Foot to Elizabeth Ewang, Bedford).
The ladies then stepped up for the coveted Tag Team title. PROACTION Ladies team has certainly developed a winning reputation, with them now struggling to find teams willing to take up the challenge! Some did, however, and with a junior (Sarah Stewart) being passed to compete with the adults last minute, first time competitor Della McGowan itching to add to her medal haul and senior competitor Bex Timms also looking for glory, there was no stopping our ladies! Champions once again, TOTAL DOMINATION.
Well done ladies!
The male destruction was also dominated by PROACTION, with Warren Berry winning Gold for Hand, and Mr R Nicholson winning Gold for Foot destruction, and even continuing to break more boards with no other competitors left!!
The adult male sparring saw an all PROACTION final in the middle weight point stop, with first time competitor James Moyle convincingly reaching the final to face Julian Andrews, winner of the Super Series 2 event. Friendship couldn’t stand in the way as both competitors fought hard, with Julian’s speed winning the day – yet another Gold to add to our total!
Glen Rankin performed outstandingly well to win both Point stop and continuous against not only the other competitors, but also a referee that seemed to have forgotten to open his eyes at point scoring time! Nonetheless, more Gold medals coming our way.
The penultimate division was the male middle weight Black Belts, where the BUTF (renouned for sparring) had brought 4 of their national team. Mr. R Nicholson fought off their first competitor in a hard fought but convincing win in round one. He met the ultimate winner, 4th dan team member, in the semi final, and a cut to the nose, coupled with the blistering speed of his opponent proved too much on this occasion. The martial arts ability, etiquette and sportsmanship was second to none in this division, as with them all, and all enjoyed this spectacle.
On to the final event....the mens tag team! With the loss of Mr R Nicholson due to a cut, the PROACTION team rallied a third member from the BUTF contingent and were able to compete. The first round was extremely dominant with Mr Shaw seemingly scoring Head kicks at will against his opponent. However, the final, a very close fought event saw the Silver come home to PROACTION and the Gold to the Harrow Head Hunters (Palcic TKD).
The end of the day saw the presentation of the winning club trophy as well as the “Best Competitor Award”. This award goes to the student with the most Gold medals, and although PROACTION had several contenders, it went to count back on grade level, with the eventual winner as BEST COMPETITOR from over 300 entrants going to first time competitor, and trainee Instructor from PROACTION Bedford – ELZABETH EWANG. Very well done.
In summary, we took home 20 Gold medals from 48 competitors, leaving PROACTION in second place overall. The winners were Palcic TKD with 25 Gold medals, from in excess of 180 competitors! The third place was tied between ITF Wales (20+ competitors) and DMA (30 competitors) both with 8 Golds each.
PROACTION were not only totally dominant in the Little Leaders, as well as the Kickboxing, and the Adult Female divisions and Destruction(!), but set exemplary standards in etiquette, sportsmanship and ability throughout. The competitors will have learnt a great deal from the event, and all took something away including a BIG SMILE!
PROACTION would also like to thank all of the parents, friends and family that came to support the event, especially those who gave up time to assist in the running of the event on the day. THANK YOU!
All in all a very successful day, which leads on to the announcement of.......
"THE PROACTION CLUB CHARITY CHALLENGE"
This will be a PROACTION members only competition to take place in Northampton during the summer of 2010.
Any monies raised from the event will be donated to a nominated charity(ies).
We expect all members to take part in this competition, which will be run in a way that is suitable for all, and designed specifically for first time entrants as well as hardened competitors, where everyone can have some fun, boost their confidence and come together in a day to raise money for charity.
If anybody within, or attached to the club, has any experience in running an event like this, or would like to gain some(!), please let us know, as we will start organising early in the new year.
We look forward to seeing you all succeed at this event in 2010.
CONGRATUALATIONS TO YOU ALL.
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