Stratford Taekwondo Club wins | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

SATURDAY, August 2, saw a team of 16 Taekwondo students from the Stratford Club compete in the North Island TUNZ Championships in New Plymouth.

The team had been practising extremely hard for many weeks coming up to the competition and had an astounding result by managing to win the Mt Putuaki Trophy for the team with the most gold medals on the day.

Taekwondo is a full contact martial art and Olympic sport. Points are scored by attacking either your opponents body or head. A forceful hit to the body scores one point and a forceful hit to the head scores two. The 'fight' is three rounds, but is stopped immediately if there is a knockout, if there is a seven-point gap between the two opponents or if the ceiling of 12 points is reached.

The three teenage girls - Brodie Murray, Anya Albot and Olya Albot showed real aggression and each won gold in a very convincing manner. These girls are all going on to the National Championships in Christchurch early next month and will definitely be competitors to watch.

Brothers Andrew and Josh Hunger also had a great day. Andrew won gold for fighting, as well as a jumping front kick competition while Josh decimated his opponent in 19 seconds.

All told, the team won eight golds, four silvers and one bronze medal. The most astounding part of this is that this was Stratford's first ever North Island Championships.

To come home with the Mt Putuaki Trophy after the first time competing was a great feeling for all.

For anyone wanting to join the club, please contact Phil Bolstad on 765 8551.

Results

Brodie Murray Girls 8 6 Geup 47 49 Kgs Gold.

Olya Albot Girls 8 6 Geup 50 52 Kgs Gold.

Anya Albot Girls 8 6 Geup 53 56 Kgs Gold.

Chad Haughey Mens 8 6 Geup Middleweight Silver.

Dane Carr Mens 5 3 Geup Under 74 Kgs Silver.

Andrew Hunger Boys 8 6 Geup 62 66 Kgs Gold.

Andrew Hunger Jumping Front Kick over 150cm Gold.

Makaiyah Hughes Junior 8 6 Geup Poomsae Silver.

Domenic Bolstad Boys 8 6 Geup 50 53 Kgs Gold.

Josh Hunger Boys 8 6 Geup 55 59 Kgs Gold.

Macey Murray Girls 8 6 Geup 24 26 Kgs Silver.

Makaiyah Hughes Boys 8 6 Geup 32 33 Kgs Bronze.

Cayden Searanke Boys 8 6 Geup Under 56 Kgs Gold.