THERE were medals galore when Bangor’s Elite Taekwon-Do NI travelled to the Crystal Classic competition in Waterford recently.
The event brought together clubs from across the island to compete in sparring, patterns, and special techniques.
The day began with Elite’s Rebecca McCune winning gold in the black belt adult female sparring category and concluded with the club’s Ruby Bedell taking gold in the red belt junior female sparring division.
In total, Elite Taekwon-Do secured an impressive 22 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver and five bronze. Among the standout performances, nine year-old Toby Chromy claimed three gold medals and was awarded the coveted ‘Best Overall Colour Belt Male’ trophy following a series of exceptional performances.
Head Coach, Dean Pritchard, praised the team’s achievements. “The club’s performance across all age categories and disciplines was absolutely amazing,” he said.
“Stepping onto the mats in front of a large crowd takes great courage, but win or lose, our students competed with skill, sportsmanship, and respect, everything our sport and club stand for. I am very proud of our team.”
Founded in January 2024, Elite Taekwondo NI has quickly built a reputation for high-quality training and consistent success at Ireland’s major competitions.
The club recently expanded to Belfast, opening a new location at Girdwood Community Hub, with students travelling from as far as Magherafelt to train with the Elite team.
Looking ahead, Mr Pritchard added: “The club has grown rapidly, and we are excited to keep the momentum going as we prepare for the Irish Taekwondo Association’s National Competition in Limerick this November.”
