Martial Arts: Taekwon-do team takes big British championships medal haul

Six competitors excel on national stage in Derby

A small Taekwon-do team from the Isle of Man scooped a big medal haul during last week's ITFU British Open Championships.

Competing at Repton School in Derby on Sunday, 28 June, six competitors from the Island managed to secure 15 medals - including seven gold - between them across their respective disciplines.

Furthermore, Manx Taekwon-Do - which operates out of Port Erin - finished third in the overall country standings behind England and Wales.

Individually, the six athletes who represented Manx Taekwon-Do - Michael Galloway, Ronan McGeown, Keanu Cassidy, Luca Ciapelli, Freddie Brown and Patrick McGeown - managed to claim no fewer than two medals each across the board.

Among the standout results, Cassidy became the first Manx Taekwon-Do student to win a sparring gold medal at the British Championships.

Head Instructor, Richard Cassidy, says: "I have been coaching for a long time, and Saturday was one of those days where you stop being an instructor for a moment, take it all in and have nothing but pride for every competitor, for showing up and giving it their all. 

"The Medals are a bonus, the character shown by all was far more important."