Bungay Taekwon-do Club News

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The photo shows from left to right: Logan, Lianne, Clinton, Martin, Sue, George and Nigel.

Welsh Medals All Around!
Bungay Taekwon-do Club

The Welsh Individual Championships
held at the Newport Velodrome in Wales Feb 28th 2009

Bungay Taekwondo Club based at Bungay High School travelled to Wales over the weekend to compete in the 1st ever GTUK Welsh Open Tournament.

Seven competitors from the club fought at the Welsh National Velodrome to bring back an astonishing haul of 11 medals. The competition was often bruising and brutal but very rewarding.

Clinton Gillett, the club instructor said, “Students from Bungay got stuck into the fierce mêlées and demonstrated cool professionalism and respect in order to triumph in difficult and challenging bouts, Kal Bedingfield did a great job as our chief cheerleader as well.”

George Crickmore (aged 14 from Bungay) achieved a superb double Gold for Sparring and Patterns, whilst Logan Bedingfield (aged 20 from Bungay) also did well to gain gold for fighting. His Mum and Dad, Sue and Nigel Bedingfield also achieved medals (Sue; Bronze Sparring and Silver Patterns. Nigel; Gold Sparring and Silver Patterns) making for fantastic family success.

Lianne Hatcher (aged 17 from Holton) gained her 1st Black Belt adult female medal with a wonderful Bronze for Sparring, whilst Martin Sloan, the assistant instructor (aged 39 from Ditchingham) fought well to achieve a Bronze in the Tag Team event with Clinton Gillett. Clinton was also awarded Gold for 3rd Degree Patterns to round off a brilliant event.

 

There is a grading at the club very soon but anyone who is interested in trying this Olympic martial art will be most warmly welcomed at any time, just contact the high school for details.

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A big medal haul for Bungay Taekwon-do Club at the East Anglia inter-club competition, held in Kettering Jan 25th 2009

Eastern Fight Delight!

Bungay Taekwondo club which is based at the High School has had a fantastic start to the tournament season of 2009. 23 students from the club travelled the 115miles to Kettering in Northamptonshire for the Eastern Region GTUK Inter Club Challenge and swept up a whole host of medals in all divisions.

The quality of patterns was high but the sparring was even higher with fierce battles often going into extra time and even sudden death, destruction was very tough with some very large competitors but overall Bungay achieved 27 medals including 12 golds, 9 silver and 6 bronzes, and families did really well with Nidge, Suzi, Bridie, Logan and Kal Bedingfield all reaching the podium alongside Ed and Will Everson and Sophie and Jenna Akerman. Other winners were Ben Howlett-Cobb, George Crickmore, Fiona Larter, Andy Hibbins, Luke Frost, Claire Sloan and the club instructor Clinton Gillett. Martin and Adam Sloan, Lianne and Ryan Hatcher, Rory and Patitia Larter and Tom Raven all competed really well but narrowly missed out on the medals.

The points gained from this successful bunch nearly brought home the area trophy, but we missed out to Wellingborough (a town and club triple the size of Bungay) by just 15 points, beating other much larger clubs along the way such as Cambridge, Kettering, Roade, Northampton, Raunds and Grange Park.

Clinton Gillett the club instructor said that “All students had done themselves and the club proud even those who did not achieve a medal demonstrated determination, power and ability. The sense of comradeship and team spirit was commentated on by many of the other clubs and other instructors were in awe of the club.”

If you would like to see the club train or have a go at this Olympic martial art come along to the high school on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 7pm or contact Clinton Gillett on 01986 892140 for further details.

Black Belt Buddies

There are two new black belts for Bungay Taekwondo Club, who having taken the gruelling 5 hour examination in Coventry on Sunday join the ranks of the GTUK (one of the fastest growing martial arts organisations in Great Britain) The tough grading includes writing a detailed thesis to be presented on the day, patterns, sparring, techniques, self defence, terminology and destruction (the breaking of inch thick wooden boards by set techniques). Ryan Hatcher (19) from Holton and Nicole Somerville (17) of Bungay have been training for over 3 years before completing the test and although very nervous performed really well to be awarded the highly coveted black belt.

Lianne Hatcher (17) of Holton and Martin Sloan (39) the club assistant instructor also successfully achieved their next black belt level in preparation for taking their second degree next year. Clinton Gillett the club instructor and Director of Design Technology at the High School said “the achievements of those at the grading reflect the tenants of Taekwondo: including integrity, perseverance, self control, indomitable spirit and courtesy and these are apparent in the club every lesson.”

GTUK British Regional Finals 2008

A small but successful team from Bungay Taekwon-do club travelled to the Midlands at the weekend to fight in the GTUK British Regional Championships.

 A fantastic performance from everyone led to medal success for the club.Theslide show, above, shows the team after a gruelling 14-hour day. 

Back row, left to right, shows Fiona Larter with her gold for destruction and bronze for sparring, Nidge Bedingfield with his gold for sparring and bronze for patterns, next to his son Logan Bedingfield, also with gold for sparring and bronze for patterns. Clinton Gillett, the club senior instructor, is centre with his silver for black belt 3rd degree, plus sparring. He is flanked on the left by assistant instructor Martin Sloan, who achieved fourth place in sparring, and to the right, junior instructor Lianne Hatcher, who also gained fourth places in both sparring and patterns, only losing out to a world champion on the way.

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Bungay Taekwon-do Club

Thursday training night at Bungay High School

September 2008

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Summer Grading Success