Archive - Thursday, 4 October 2001


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Tae Kwondo members do club and country proud

BARRY YMCA Tae Kwon Do Club has its second world champion in nine months.

The club took part in last month's WKA (World Kick Boxing and Karate Association) World Championships which were held in the beautiful city of Vienna, in Austria.

The Welsh team met at the YMCA and there was a surprise visit from Barry Town Mayor Cllr Margaret Wilkinson.

The first day in Vienna was taken up with formalities and relaxing, and the second day saw the opening ceremony, with 68 countries competing.

The first group on the mat was Light Continuous and although this is more suitable to kick boxing than Tae Kwon Do points fighting, Nicky Limbrick, James Morgan, Arthur Bezerra and Richard Palfrey came home with medals.

Arthur Bezerra took bronze after beating Spanish and German fighters before losing to the South African champion in the semis.

James Morgan beat strong Russian and Canadian fighters before once again losing in the semi to the American champion.

Nicky Limbrick beat the American champion, the Irish champion and the German on his way to the final.

The finals were held next day with Nicky having to fight the Austrian champion in a bruising encounter and taking a unanimous decision to be crowned Under 70kg Light Continuous World Champion.

In the Points Fighting next day Barry members came into their own with Silver Medals for Ben Jeans and Mark Palfrey.

James Morgan took his second Bronze Medal in Points Sparring, while Jamie Bellinger lost to a good American having to fight a weight group up.

Kathryn Haggard put up a good display in her first Welsh outing and Jade Dancy was pipped to the Bronze medal by the American girl.

Sam Nurse and Danielle Jeans both fought well in points but will now switch to Under 30kg light continuous.

Nicholas Nicholls and Leon Jones could not have tried harder but were beaten by good fighters.

Danny Ryan and Jamie Morgan learned a lot in defeat and came up with medals later in the day.

Club assistant instructor Paul Nurse put up a good display, losing to the German champion in the second round.

The biggest cheer of the day came when the Welsh Junior five-man team, all from the Barry club and coached by Colin Palfrey, took another Bronze medal. The team of Richard Palfrey, Danny Ryan, Mark Palfrey, Jamie Morgan and James Morgan did club and country proud.

There were a total of 11 medals for the club: Nicky Limbrick gold, Mark Palfrey silver and bronze, Ben Jeans silver, Arthur Bezerra bronze, James Morgan, three bronze, Danny Ryan bronze, Jamie Morgan bronze, Richard Palfrey bronze.