Romy Mottershead and Izzy Brider from the Trident TKD Academy represented ITF England at the 19 Senior and 13 Junior ITF World Championships that took place in Jesolo Italy between the 27-31 May 2015.  The Championships attracted 1019 competitors from 53 countries comprising 586 seniors and 433 juniors.  ITF England took a large contingent of 79 competitors, coaches, officials, umpires and spectators.  At the outset I place on record thanks to the organising committee and all the umpires and officials that allowed for well-organised and friendly Championships.

The outcome of many hours of training resulted in a total of 17 medals which placed ITF England 9 on the medal table ahead of many larger teams.  This was made up of 2 Gold, 6 Silver and 9 Bronze medals.  Individuals won 13 of the 17 medals.  Full details can be found on the ITF website but for ease the table below sets out the full detail:

 

Izzy Brider, Junior Female II degree pattern

Zak Espi Castillo, Senior Male Sparring over 85 kg

 

Laura Fox Longdon, Senior Female Sparring to 62kg

Adam Bonwick, Junior Male Sparring to 68kg

Romy Mottershead, Junior Female Sparring to 60kg

Jennifer Pena, Senior Female Sparring to 50kg

Hannah Whittaker, Senior Female Sparring to 68 kg

Shane O’Rourke, Senior Male Sparring to 85kg

 

Adam Bonwick, Junior Male II degree pattern

Kristine Evio, Junior Female II degree pattern

Jason Bint, Senior Male Sparring to 70kg

 Aniko Heradi, Senior Female Sparring over 75kg

Katie Wawman, Junior Female Sparring to 65kg

Senior Male Team Pattern

Junior Female Team Pattern

Senior Female Team Sparring

Senior Female Team Special Technique

 

The list above gives neither an idea of the level of the competition faced by the individuals and teams nor the level of excitement of the majority of the events.  Many of the sparring bouts went down to the wire and at least three medals could have been gold rather than silver.

 

Insofar as the performance of Romy and Izzy is concerned it would be fair to say that the two contributed in a significant way to the success of the team.  Romy sparred in the individual junior female under 60kg category and faced stiff competition.  She set a high standard and progressed to the semi-final and thence the final.  This, however, hides the fact that all thought that she had made it to the final and as she was getting ready for what we all believed to be the final she was told that she would have to compete in the semi-final.  This didn’t seem to faze her and she progressed to the final.  This was held about 5 minutes after the semi-final and notwithstanding that her competitor, from Poland, had had a much longer rest she sparred brilliantly.  After two close fought rounds and with little time left on the clock Romy was given a foul, for grabbing, which reversed the score.  Little time remained in the round and Romy was beaten by the smallest of margins.   However, I firmly believe that her loss, by the narrowest of margins, will spur her on to win the gold medal at the European Championships in Scotland in October.

By this time Izzy had already become the World Champion in individual junior female II degree patterns.  Izzy had up to this point not progressed in previous World and European Championships and her success was a demonstration of perseverance.  The difference between winning and losing in patterns, given the new scoring system, has become much finer and errors are not retrievable.  Her progress to the final meant, as for Romy, that she faced competition from across the world.  However, it seemed that once she had won the first round her confidence grew and she progressed to the final where she met a competitor from Hungary.  After performing Juche and Choong-Jang she became World Champion.  Izzy also sparred in the individual junior female under 50kg category but was beaten by a semi-finalist from Argentina.  She was disappointed but remains hungry to add to beat her previous World Championship bronze medal secured in 2013.  She also represented the team in team patterns, where she won a bronze medal being narrowly beaten by Ireland in the semi-final, team power, finishing joint fourth after a play-off and team special technique.

Romy and Izzy were also part of the junior female sparring team which was beaten by one point in the quarter finals of that event.

 

Izzy also had the privilege of being appointed as the junior team captain.

 

Good wishes are sent to Romy and Izzy for the upcoming 2015 ITF European Championships that will be taking place in Scotland in October as both were selected for the Worlds and Euros at the trials held in November 2014.

 

I should also add that all through the events Phil Mottershead and this reporter gave as much support to each other as to the competitors.   I think we were more nervous than either Romy or Izzy!  Their focus was amazing and I for one will never forget their performances.  As will be imagined a few tears were shed and not just the competitors and I want to place on record my thanks to Phil and Mr. David Condie for keeping me sane when Izzy was performing her patterns, I hope that I did the same for Phil when Romy was competing.  I also want to thank Mr. Condie for lending a shoulder to cry on, literally and metaphorically after Izzy had won the final.

Photo of the T-UK representatives at the end of the Championships.  From left to right: Mr. Phil Mottershead, Alex Marshall, Gregor Towers,  Mr. David Condie, Dr. Jeff Brider, Izzy Brider and Romy Mottershead.

 

Thanks are due to Mr. Lear and his coaching team (Mr. Adams, Mr. Burns, Miss McColl, Mr. De Silva, Mr. Ernest and Mr. Lammin) whose efforts and dedication have developed such a strong team that is going from strength to strength.  It is much appreciated by all connected with the team their commitment and hard work is a key ingredient to the success of each individual of the team.  I know that they felt the highs and lows of all the team, even when some lost their voices!

 

Finally I want to place on record my thanks to all instructors in T-UK and at the Trident Academy that has allowed Romy and Izzy to achieve so much.  However, I must give the greatest thanks to Mr. Miley for all his dedication, support and time for over 12 years in getting Romy and Izzy to this position.  Thanks sir. 

 

I would encourage all those eligible to consider entering the trials for the European Championships that will be taking place in Finland in 2016.

 

Dr. Jeff Brider