1997 Canadian National Taekwondo Championships and Team Trials Results
MKS
The 1997 Canadian National Taekwondo Championships and Team Trials were held
at Varsity Arena, July 11-12. There were over 300 competitors with
representation from each province and territory as well as from the Canadian
Forces and First Nations. The largest and most important WTF Taekwondo event
of the year in Canada was hosted this year by no other than Grandmaster Nam
Sik Baik. Grandmaster Baik is a several time Korean National Champion, and
also holds the position of WTF Canada Tournament Chairman.
He has also coached and managed Team Canada at the World Championships, the
World Cup and also the PanAm Games.
He is an 8th dan in Taekwondo and a 7th dan in Hapkido, and has two schools
one in Scarborough, Ontario and the other in Thornhill, Ontario.
Grandmaster Baik and his organization Committee put on the best Taekwondo
Nationals yet to be seen. Security was tight allowing only competitors and
coaches of the present matches to be on the floor. This allowed excellent
viewing of all matches from an
ywhere in the arena. The National Referees were led by Grandmaster Michael
Yu of Calgary, Alberta. Under his guidance, the referees worked hard both
days and provided the competitors with fair and accurate officiating. The
daily opening and coordinating of the Team Trials were led by the
Competition Chairman Master Sun Jung of Chatham, Ontario who did an
excellent job.
The Inspection Table was supervised by Master Tommy Chang of Toronto,
Ontario.
There was a large and strong contingency from both Ontario and Quebec.
Overall Quebec took home 19 medals, Ontario 17 medals, Alberta 10 medals,
British Columbia 7 medals, Nova Scotia 6 medals, Saskatchewan 2 medals, and
Newfoundland Manitoba and The Canadian Forces 1 medal each.
The two days started off with the male and female poomse (pattern)
competition, the opening ceremonies which included a parade of athletes led
by a Metropolitan Toronto Piper, speeches by Grandmaster Tae Eun Lee the WTF
Canada President, and by the Ambassador of Korea to Canada and the Consul
General of Korea to Canada. After the speeches an exciting and energetic
demonstration by the 1996 Pan Am championship demo team Moo Kwang Taekwondo
Demo Team. The exciting kyorugi (full contact sparring) for eight weight
divisions for male and female followed. The rules were WTF rules which will
be used at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
There was never a dull moment throughout the two days of competition.
Several knockouts occurred, but the professional medical team led by Dr.
Kazemi and Dr. Charbonneau ensured all injuries were attended to
immediately. The medical team provided at least
one doctor per court.
The gold medalists will represent Team Canada at the WTF World Championships
in November this year in Hong Kong. As many competitors received their
medals, tears of joy could be seen flowing down their cheeks. the
competitors and the coaches provided the spectators with an excellent
exhibition of WTF style Taekwondo.
Grandmaster Baik and his Organizing Committee should take a bow for the job
well done in hosting the 1997 Canadian National Taekwondo Championships and
Team Trials this year. The Official results are listed below:
1997 Canadian National Taekwondo Championships and Team Trials
Kyorugi Results
Fin-Male
1. James Ngo, BC
2. Peter Liang, AB
3. Herbert Porter, NS
3. Patrick Mathurin, QB
Fin-Female
1. Donna Villaverde, ON
2. Monica Verma, BC
3. Eugenia Chow, BC
Fly-Male
1. Paul Beard, ON
2. Kris Thibideau, NS
3. Yoon Sang Ha, SK
3. Craig Seymour, NS
Fly-Female
1. Stephanie Contino, ON
2. Tara Mitchelmore, NFLD
3. Priscilla Bencic, AB
3. Tonia Timperley, BC
Bamtam-Male
1. Akmal M. Farah, ON
2. Raymond Mourad, QB
3. Arthur Barrow, NS
3. Kim Hang Lee, QB
Bamtam-Female
1. Roxanne Forget, QB
2. Diana Yu, AB
3. Linda Lee, BC
3. Nicole Girard, AB
Feather-Male
1. Sayed Najem, AB
2. Evangelos Ligeros, QB
3. Sean Wagner, ON
3. Kirk Royeau, NS
Feather-Female
1. Marie-Claude Boucher, QB
2. Isabelle Paquette, QB
3. Karine Bolduc, QB
3. Nancy Hotte, QB
Light-Male
1. Mitchell Koh, ON
2. Tony Kook, BC
3. Mazloum N. Michel, QB
3. David Arsenault, QB
Light-Female
1. Shelley Vettesse Baert, AB
2. Tammy Bobyk, ON
3. Samantha Stephen, ON
3. Easter Joy Tocol, BC
Welter-Male
1. Victor Luke, ON
2. Brian Ickman, QB
3. Sean Wright, AB
3. Patrick Douaire, QB
Welter-Female
1. Nathalie Birgentzien-Lund, Can. Forces
2. Barbara Pak, AB
3. Lori Howell, ON
3. Rosanne Purnwaise, ON
Middle-Male
1. Martin MacDougall, NS
2. Spencer Mandy, ON
3. Menard Pierre, QB
3. Kabir Madirzada, QB
Middle-Female
1. Dawn Birley, SK
2. Tracy Leigh Ross, AB
3. Cynthia Belziuk, AB
3. Roxanne Gilroy, ON
Heavy-Male
1. Denis Kim, QB
2. Olivier Pineau, QB
3. Ramezan Ali-Hosseini, ON
3. Raphael Bergmann, ON
Heavy-Female
1. Dominique Bosshart, MB
2. Jodi Dodman, ON
3. Michelle Gingras, QB
3. Rosaria Marabella, QB
END
by Marcelo K. Sarkis