Sardinia, the capital of the European Championships
Jon Mackey IUTF and Calvin Thomas of IUTF England
Donna taking a break on our day off
Trish Coulahan
Practicing on the beach, Neidin, Shane and Leon
Alvydas, Adam, Martin, Neidin and Donna
Mr Mackey
Neidin
Alvydas
The evening sun set
The arena
Kevin Larkin and Mr Pat McCarthy
Neidin waits in the wings, Master Wolf is along side
The umpires
Mr Riordan, ITF Ireland international coach
Neidin gets ready
Scores with the right hand
Receiving some good advice
Mrs Dalton, was voted the most professional referee by all the Irish students!!
Neidin about to win her first bout
Putting together the strategy with Mr Riordan
Neidin and her Croatian opponent in the final Joanna
Martin Moylan being coached by Mr McCarthy
mid bout
The Italian got the decision, see the video for yourself!
Eye shadow courtesy of Taekwon-Do sparring
Mr Mackey squares off against a formiddable Italian opponent in patterns
Ge Baek, designated pattern
The view from the hotel
Mr Daragh Bolton of Focus MA in his individual bout against Kevin Guy of England
Mr Mackey drew Spain in the opener, and scoring here with a right to the body
We were 4 points ahead going into the second round. The advice was hang back, score and move.
Until....
Going....
Gone.
Mr Mackey's opponent was unfortunatley knocked out.
The medics worked on him and thankfully he was ok after a few minutes. Mr Mackey was disqualified by the Jury president.
Junior boys line out against England
Junior girls against Italy
Junior boys
ITF Ireland senior squad line out against old rivals England
Mr Mackey was up first against Kevin Guy
The plan was to keep the side kick up and work off the counters
In goes the back kick, Ireland are ahead.
Mind the area!
A tight guard kept Mr Guys punches out of score areas
The strategy works, and Ireland go one up from the start.
Mr Bolton was in next for Ireland
Then Mr Brydon
Mr Brydon scores a knock down shot
Calvin Thomas took on the unstoppable Richard Belle. Our tacticts were working a treat
Mr Thomas bravely stood toe to toe with Richard Belle
Next in was Ben Halpin for Ireland
Michael Belle managed a draw with Ben. We firmly beleived we had won at this stage.
Mr Brydon had to face Richard Belle, unfortunately breaking his nose. In true IUTF fashion, he brushed it off and fought on, we were keeping our fingers crossed. But World champion Belle secured Englands victory.
Old rivals, but all good friends.
Neidin measures up for power breaking
Mr Mackey with Vincenzo Santagati. It was great to see him back in the ring.
Daragh Bolton breaking
Medal time and Neidin gets silver for sparring
Tim Teirney from Kerry wins gold
Irish junior girls Gold for team sparring
and special technique
Junior boys Bronze in team sparring
Clare O'Sullivan, bronze in patterns
Mr Mackey bronze in patterns
along side Mathew Brunger who won the world championships patterns in 2007
Leon Brydon gold for sparring
Senior ladies Silver in sparring
Senior male squad Bronze in sparring
Mr Mackey being presented by Master Wolf
Jon Mackey with Richard Belle current world and European Champion
Nedein and junior girls team
The veterans get ready
Junior boys Gold for power
Martin Moylan being presented by Master Wolf
Junior girls win gold for Team sparring
Junior girls squad
Another bronze for the boys
Pilsung blackbelts show off the medals
Jon Mackey with the power house Master Svendson from ITF Norway.
With the legend that is ... Daragh Bolton
With international coach Mr Riordan who's tactics in both individual sparring and teams was excellent.
Some of the Irish delegation
Adam Quinn waits to compete
Off we go!
First up Russia,
Then France
Beating Italy in the final
Donna gets stuck in
Neidin coaching
Donna takes gold in patterns
Another Irish medal
Jordan Dalton silver in patterns
Donna silver in Sparring
Alvydas Gold in Saprring
Adam Gold in Sparring
Donna with some of the girls in her group
Team Mackey!!
Jordan Dalton wins silver in Sparring
Jon Mackey with gentleman that is Mr Kevin Guy ITF England
Now the tournament is over it's time for Pizza
Loads of Pizza!!
And birthday cake
two birthday cakes at that - spot the Focus MA improvised version on the left
A well deserved break
And now for Ice cream
and more ice cream
The focus lads
The untouchables!
Cathal, Jon, Daragh, Mick, and Tom
A group photo
The busted up brigade. More bruises than a ripe banana
Martin (there's nothing more to say)
tasting the exquisite Sardinian food, filleto ben cotto!
Julian behind the camera
Is it bingo night?
Who's fingers are they?
A group shot of some IUTF diners
The final medal photo!
13, not unlucky for some!
Larry, Curly and Moe
Adam doesn't realise the man behind him is biting his ear!
