RESULTS OF THE 1st ANNUAL PROVINCIAL
TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIP
ORGANIZED BY
THE MANITOBA TAEKWONDO ASSOCIATION
FEBRUARY 19, 2000
An excellent demonstration by the Iron Fist school was a
good starting in the provincial competition realized on Saturday at the Sturgeon
Creek Collegiate. Unfortunately the Sparring Competition was very poor, not by
lack of technical skill of the competitors, but the lack of competitors. Most of
the division were won without fight, because there were only one or two
competitor for that division. A tournament of this level should have more
participation from the many school that there are in Manitoba, after all this
kind of tournament will be used in the future to represent our province on the
National events.
Here is a summary of what happen on the different Divisions :
UNDER 54 kg. = There were only two competitors in this
Division. Leon Desmarais, who seem to have more experience, defeat Gaylord
Schafer, winning the gold medal.
Under 47 kg. = Lindsay Denton was the only competitor in this
division, so she won the Gold medal without fight.
54 - 58 kg. = Jason Wood, also was the only competitor in this
Division, so he also won the Gold medal without fight.
47 - 51 kg. = Alison Pagsuyuin and Ronalee Nickel were the only
two competitors in this division. Because, they were from the same school they
did not want to fight each other, so there was not fight on this division.
Ronalee Nickel decided to give the fight to Alisson Pagsuyuin who won the Gold
medal. Alisson Pagsuyuin is also one of the finest athlete in the province, who
has represented Canada on International events.
58 - 62 kg. = There were no competitors for this division.
51 - 55 kg. = Again there was only one competitor in this
division, Adelle Lusansky, who won the Gold Medal without having to fight.
62 - 67 kg. = This was one of the Division that presented a
little more challenge for the athletes. There were 3 competitors. The fist
fight, Nigel Jaikaran, with more experienced and more technical skills defeat
Jonathan Doemer. However in his second fight, in a very tight fight, he lost
against Serge Bourgouin, who won the Gold Medal.
55 - 59 kg. = Ecko Zimmer and Miss Donna Byrne,
also were the only two competitors in this division. Because, they also were
from the same school, decided not to fight each other, so there were also not
fight in this division. Miss Donna Byrne decided to give the fight to Ecko
Zimmer, who won the Gold medal.
67 - 72 kg. = This was one of the best division to watch. 4
athletes competed in this division, all four of them shows a high technical
skill. In the end was Ryan Brennan who demonstrated his superiority against his
opponents, winning the Gold Medal.
59 - 63 kg. = To bad that the only 2 competitor on this divisions
were from the same school. They still fight each other, but was a poor fight,
because, it was obvious that they did not want to fight each other. At the end
of the fight, it was Cecilia Araneda who took the Gold Medal.
72 - 78 kg. = Here again, Adam Malanchuk was the only competitor
on this division, so he took the Gold Medal without having to fight.
63 - 67 kg. = Robin Gardiner was the only one competitor on this
division, so she also took the Gold Medal without fighting.
78 - 84 kg. = Jonathan Durocher defeat without question Kevin
Meyer. However on his second fight he was defeated by David Parker. This was the
best fight of the competition. Both fighter show and excellent spirit
competitive, an excellent techniques and precision. David Parker is a young and
talent athlete with a brilliant future in Taekwondo competitions. We hope that
somehow he find the time to keep practicing Taekwondo to sharp their skill. We
hope he would be able to represent our province in the National.
67 - 72 kg. = Shane Glover was another disappointed athlete who
did not have any competitor to fight, she was the only one on his division, who
also, won the Gold Medal without having to fight.
OVER 84 kg. = The heavy weight division was easy won by Ryan
Vanderzwan, who defeat a less experience an younger fighter, Daniel Krahn. Ryan
Vanderzwan, who took the Gold Medal, had proved many times that he have what it
take to compete in a National and International level. We also hope that find
the time to keep practicing, so he can be ready when the opportunity knock his
door.
OVER 72 kg. = Dominique
Bosshart, the only Taekwondo Athlete from Canada who qualify for the Olympic
Games on Sydney, Australia, defeated easily his opponent Melanie Smith.
Dominique Bosshart is a Taekwondo Athlete who have bring so much glory to
our province. She has been representing our province for many years on the
Nationals and also representing Canada in International event. She has bring so
many medal and glory to this sport. Even with all this success on his athlete
career, she has not forgotten her roots and still find time to participate in
this provincial and support his school and this kind of event on her province.
She is Students of the Kang's Taekwondo Academy. We
wish her all the best in the Olympic Games 2000.
Thanks to the Manitoba Taekwondo Association for make this event possible,
which can create the foundation for futures Provincial Tournaments. We hope that
the MTAI, can get the support of more athletes for the Provincial 2001. There
are many talents in this provinces and somehow they did not get involved on this
tournament who supposed to be a major event. Also some of the members (Master
and Grand Master) of the Manitoba Taekwondo Association were not present in this
event. As leaders of Taekwondo in this province they should have been there to
support the art they try to promoted. We all know that will always be politics
differences, however it should be put behind in benefit of Taekwondo.
Even with the poor publicity and promotion of this event, the place was full of
people, who get there to support the athletes. A tournament of this level should
have a bigger place where can fit all the spectators who would go if this event
were more promoted.
