Titles to be won and defended at Ulster Championships

STAYING true to the clubs  exemplary status as Taekwondo practitioners the talented team from Cathal Fegan’s eponymous school have almost as many titles to defend at the Ulster Championships as they do to gain.    

  Amongst this gifted entourage is Crossmaglen’s Finn Morgan who is determined to give  just as an exhilarating performance at the Ulster Championships as he did the European Championships held in Barcelona. 

“I did quite well in Spain.   In the fighting I did quite well as I won gold. I am looking forward to the Ulster Championships. It will be good and just experiencing the Ulster's is good craic when you have your club their.   

“I think we are only meant to do semi-contact but you normally do a wee bit more just to get that extra bit in at the end. Hopefully I will do really well.    

“With Taekwondo I love keeping fit with training and I have great friends in the club. I have been doing Taekwondo for seven years, since I was about four. I am red tag belt. This is lower than black.”   

Sharing in their club colleague’s enthusiasm were Molly and Louis Fegan each of whom won a gold medal at last year’s Ulster Championships and thus both of which now have a title to defend.

 “I have been doing Taekwondo for four years” said Molly, I fought in the Ulster Championship last year as well as the Leinster's , European and Northern Ireland. I got gold in all of these.

“It will be full contact in the Ulster's. I am the under 10 girl’s champion in the 130 to 140cm category.  I think I will retain my title this year. All the ones I have won so far I was really nervous for them then I just went and did it and I did really well in them.  I had three fights last year and I won all three as well as three in each tournament. I like turning kicks, font kicks to the stomach.” 

      Molly’s sibling Louis also shared his siblings resolve to defend the title he won last year

“I am the Ulster Champion, the Under 10 boy's champion in the 120 to 130cm height category. I got two golds last year. I think I will be able to retain my title. My favourite move is the turning kick. I won an award last year at the Ulster's for best performer and I won two golds for my performance in patterns and the performance I gave.”

Expressing his determination to claim his first gold medal at  national tournament was Saval's Daniel Turley  

“I am 14. I have been doing Taekwondo for about 10 years this year, since I was four. I am a black belt. I have competed in the European Championships in Wales and a Spanish tournament in Barcelona. I have won a couple of Bronze and Silvers. I have never won gold in any of the big tournaments . I am going for gold this Saturday in the under 50kg from 14 to 17. It will be full contact sparring. I will have perhaps four fights.” 

 No doubt Joining Daniel on the podium will be his sister Molly.  

 “I won gold in the Ulster's last year. I am an Ulster Champion. I am going to retain my title and I have been putting the work in. I go to training two days a week.  My favourite techniques are side kicks. I love going forward.”