David Kimber Award - Student of the Year

The 2007 winners of the student of the year at RTA Didcot were presented during class on Tuesday 18^th December 2007.

Congratulations go to our recipients;

Kirsty Miller II Dan       David Kimber Award (Student of the Year)

Jack Grant 1^st Kup        Master Gary Miller Cup (Junior Student of the Year)

Pippa Pearce 4^th Kup    Miller Cup (Student’s Student of the Year)

2007 UK Open

The UK Open was held on 24^th November at UWIC, Cardiff and once again we were really successful. Our medallists were:

Ricky De Winton - Bronze in Patterns, Gold in Sparring and Gold in Special Technique,

Kirsty Miller - Gold in Patterns and Bronze in Sparring,

Faye Miller - Bronze in Sparring

Don Ward - Gold in Power,

Louise Morrow - Bronze in Patterns,

Andy Strong - Silver in Sparring 

Aaron Wright - Bronze in Sparring,

Pippa Pearce - Silver in Sparring,

Liam Miller - Silver in Patterns

Alison Fisher - Silver in Sparring, Gold in Power,

Ryan Morrow - Bronze in Patterns and Sparring

And Megan Barlow - Bronze in Sparring.

Our other competitors were Becky Ward, Russell Brady, Joe Tuckwell, Mel Pitman, Rae Deane, Louis Figon, and Jamie Allen. Thanks to our umpire Andy Haynes, and Carl Davis for coaching.

The next event is the English Open at K2 Crawley on March 15^th 2008. This event will coincide with GM Rhee’s 70^th birthday and will feature a Master’s demonstration. Please support this event – all spectators have free admission.

Pro Taekwon-Do, Croatia Round Zero

The first winter’s snow fell as the inaugural professional TKD fight night took place in the Dom Sportova Hall in Zagreb , capital of Croatia on Saturday 17^th November 2007. Eight competitors from Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada , Croatia , Iran , North Korea , Russia , South Korea and Tajikistan fought for the first prize of $30,000 U.S. dollars. Even though Croatia was playing Macedonia in a UEFA football qualifier at the same time, 3,500 spectators took their seats to witness full contact ITF matches.

Umpires specially selected from around Europe were Master Michael Prewett VIII (Wales ), Master Gary Miller VII (England ), Mr Floyd Keane VI (Ireland ), Mr Murat Sunetov VI (Russia ), Mr Emin Duracovic VI (Slovenia ) and Mr Vergili Sitnilski V (Bulgaria ).

It was organised by AETF President Master Anto Toni Nobilo VIII. VIPs included IOC Member & ITF President Professor Chang Ung and First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha, Snr Vice President of ITF. Miller TKD sends congratulations to the winner Andrei Krylov of Russia , who stopped Woytek Kaszowski of Canada in the final. Further details, photos and video footage can be found on www.pro-taekwondo.com

2007 European Championships

This was held in Tallinn , Estonia – formerly of the Soviet Union. It was attended by almost 400 black belt competitors from 29 countries. RTA Didcot was well represented and our congratulations go to;

Ricky De Winton – Bronze in sparring,

Andrew Haynes – Bronze in Patterns,

Kirsty Miller – Bronze in Patterns,

plus Carl Davis who withdrew from the individual events with an injury. Next year the Euro is in Porec , Croatia in May.

Fundraising Event

As previously mentioned there is to be a fund raising workshop on Thursday 21^st February at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Rd. This event will cover all aspects of competition & grading performance, so if you are not interested in competition there will still be something for you.

This event is open to all members regardless of age or grade. Times are 7.00pm – 9.00pm

Area Seminar & Grading Dates 2008

The Oxfordshire area seminars & gradings will take place at Castle Leisure Centre,

St Georges Rd , Wallingford on;

Sunday      2^nd March         8^th June          28^th September         7^th December   

2007 English Open Championships