Taekwondo: Team collects haul of gold and silver

Aotearoa Taekwondo Te Puke team. (Back, left to right) Regan Stuart, Tuteonerangi Nicholson, James Tanner, Manauri Wilson, assistant coach Kayne Gilmour; (front, left to right) Lakshya Dhillon, Mahinarangi Wirihana, Maiamarie Gauld, Blake Ward, Hohepa Kokiri. Absent: Isaac Morgan, Faith Waterman, Orion Thomas, assistant coach Jim Thomas.

Aotearoa Taekwondo Te Puke's team of seven fighters returned home from the Morrinsville Cadet Under-14 tournament over the weekend with five gold medals, two silvers and plenty of valuable experience.

Following the Bay Open held five weeks earlier, hard work and consistent training were the key elements to the team's success, along with attitude adjustments and strictly following instructions. These gave the team the edge needed over their opponents.

Other teams representing Aotearoa Taekwondo travelled to North Harbour and the East Coast Tikitiki/Ruatoria, bringing the team total to 22 fighters and an overall medal haul of 15 golds, six silvers and a bronze. An awesome effort.

A selection process to represent Aotearoa is currently under way for next year's Cadet World Championship development team.

"Before each tournament, as has been said in the past to our fighters, 'when you are on a winning streak, win well, when you are on a losing streak, lose well'. Ultimately, sportsmanship is the name of the game," said Moana Gauld, who is in charge of the fighters' development.

She is a national and Korean Open Champion, Senior World Games competitor, and a master coach at the Junior World Games 2004.

"Knowing what's best for my fighters is paramount, with over 30 years experience of what works and what doesn't, and also not taking valuable knowledge and experience learned for granted," she said.

" ... The Te Puke club, in just two short months, is already showing great strengths ... Do your homework and everything that is asked of you to do. It is not the equipment you wear, it's the person wearing it, and in time the results will follow."

Seniors Phillip Robinson and James Tanner will be grading for their black belts on Thursday, December 18.

The doors will be open to the public, if anyone wishes to get a feel for what Aotearoa Taekwondo is all about.

The club thanks all their supporters and parents for their ongoing support "and a huge thanks to Fairhaven School".

Medal haul
Morrinsville winners
Gold: Mahinarangi Wirihana, Lakshya Dhillon, Blake Ward, Hohepa Kokiri, Isaac Morgan; Silver: Manauri Wilson, Maiamarie Gauld.