Local competitors turn in fine show in Tallaght Open
TALLAGHT Martial Arts enjoyed a great turnout for their 15th Open held in Citywest Hotel with more than 400 competitors from all over the country taking part.
Tallaght and Blessington Martial Arts together with Bushido and GRASP were among the local clubs to secure medals.
For the hosts club, Dylan McClelland finished first in Intermediate Points Fighting and third in Advanced Points Fighting 13 years and under while Nathan Clarke did likewise in the nine years and under Intermediate Points class.
There was gold for Sam O’Toole (seven years and under Points Fighting and bronze in Light Contact), Naoise Colvin (13 years and under Advanced PF), Ellen McCaughey (11 years and under Advanced, 13 years and under Novice and second 11 years and under Intermediate), Isabel McCaughey (seven years and under Novice and second Intermediate PF), Leo Goulding (nine years and under Intermediate Points Fighting), Shauna Fitzpatrick (13 Years and under Intermediate PF), Anna White (9 years and under intermediate Points Fighting), Cheyanne O’Hagan (five years and under Points Fighting), Rhys O’Connor (nine years and under Novice and third 9 years and under Intermediate Points Fighting).
Troy Evans emerged runner-up from the seven years and under Points Fighting division as did Cillian McArdle in the nine and under Novice Light Contact), Luke Shaw in the Intermediate Points Fighting 13 years and under second and Sean McCaughey (nine years and under Novice. He was also third in the Inter-mediate Points Fighting).
Taking the final spot on the podium in their respective fields were Louis McGlinchey (traditional kata), Kyle Keogh (nine years and under Novice, Points Fighting), Aaron Keogh (11 and under Intermediate Points Fighting), and Cian Colvin (Intermediate 13 Years and under PF).
GRASP Martial Art’s Eoin Glynn won his -65kg section, carding hard-fought victories over Padraic Cuskelly and Tallaght’s James McGuirk.
His clubmate Emma Duignam topped the -50kg Continuous Fighting class and finished runner-up at
-55kg.
Bushido Clondalkin, with a squad of more than 20, recorded a tally of six gold, seven silver and 10 bronze.
Irish Team members Zach Lamari and Amy Wade won their categories with ease with the former finishing the day with two golds and Wade chalking up one along with a bronze.
Her younger sibling, Ryan took silver and bronze while 11-year-old Georgia McAllister recorded two third place finishes.
Twelve-year-old Matylda Kondys, in only her third outing on the competitive circuit, picked up bronze after Lukas Geciaukas made a strong debut for his club by reaching the finals of the Boys Under 13 Light Continuous division only to lose on a very close split decision.
Josh Staunton and Rhys Duggan, competing in the Under 11 Boys Novice Light Continuous division, finished with a silver and bronze respectively.
Aranas Orlovas lined out in the Under Boys Points Fighting section and emerged with bronze, before brothers Luke and Aaron Singh both finished with three medals between them.
Luke Morgan Gibbons made an impressive start to his fighting career by reaching two finals and just finishing short of gold in the Boys Under 13 Light Contact Tall and Points Fighting divisions.
The senior squad was equally impressive with Sandra Schliszio taking gold in the Ladies Novice +65kg LC class.
Team mate Oskar Miler was on the mats for the first time and won gold in the Men’s Heavyweight LC Novice division after which 18-year-old Alex Barrett, making his first appearance in the senior ranks, took home one silver and one bronze.
TAGS Sport
