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INPRYSIS SUPPORTS LOCAL OLYMPIC HOPEFUL

Apr 20 2012

Asia Bailey (14) has been tipped for the 2016 Olympics after a recent series of stunning victories in world Taekwondo competitions. She recently represented Great Britain at the 9th WTF Junior World Championships in Egypt and became the first-ever Scottish Taekwondo player to achieve a podium finish at a World Taekwondo championship.
Her achievement in Sharm El Sheik was even more significant as she was Britain’s only medallist.
Her stunning performance has prompted the GB Performance Director Gary Hall to say “It was a great result from a junior athlete who has a promising future”.
Asia became World Bronze Medallist after reaching the semi-final of the Junior Female under 42kg division. Not only is she Scotland’s first world medallist, but she's also the youngest-ever British player to medal at a world championship since they were introduced back in 1973.
The championship attracted 753 athletes from 90 countries, with 35 countries represented in Asia’s division.
However, competing at this level comes at a cost, both in the physical demands of training and in the financial demands of attending competition around the world.
Inprisys are delighted to sponsor Asia to help her fulfil her full potential at top class levels on the world stage.
Good luck Asia!

David Waddell presents a cheque to Asia to help fund her trip to Korea

Congratulations to our newly promoted Black Belts

Well done to Sam on achieving 1st Dan and Denise on being promoted to 2nd Dan

ASIA TIPPED FOR 2016 OLYMPICS AFTER STUNNING TAEKWONDO PODIUM FINISH IN EGYPT

FOURTEEN-year-old Larbert High School pupil Asia Bailey created a little bit of Taekwondo history when she represented Great Britain at the 9th WTF Junior World Championships in Egypt by becoming the first-ever Scottish Taekwondo player to achieve a podium finish at a World Taekwondo championship.

Her achievement in Sharm El Sheik was even more significant as she was Britain’s only medallist.

And her stunning performance has prompted the GB Performance Director Gary Hall to say “It was a great result from a junior athlete who has a promising future”.

Asia became World Bronze Medallist after reaching the semi-final of the Junior Female under 42kg division. Not only is she Scotland’s first world medallist, at only 14, but she's also the youngest-ever British player to medal at a world championship since they were introduced back in 1973.

The championship attracted 753 athletes from 90 countries, with 35 countries represented in Asia’s division.

In her first match she faced Bagtas Simge from Germany and was 2-1 down with only 10 seconds remaining but made a storming finish and took the game 4-2. In the next round she faced the European Bronze Medallist, Erin Jacobsen, from Norway. It was a superb performance from Asia against a top-class opponent and she won through to the quarter finals by 9 points to 1.

Ambre Burgas from France stood in the way of the medals. Once again Asia found herself 2-1 behind with time running out but this time it was even more dramatic with Asia scoring a classic three-point headshot right in the last second and getting through to the medal stages by the skin of her teeth.

But Asia finally met her match in Wan Ting Lin from Chinese Teipei in a close fought semi-final. In the other semi-final the Korean Hye Min Jeong beat Iran and went on to take the world title - beating the Teipei player in the final.

Asia was selected to represent Team GB after a series of impressive performances at A Class tournaments around Europe, which included winning the prestigious Dutch Open Championships.

She’ll be training with the national squad at various training camps over the coming months. This includes two weeks’ training at the Physical Education High School in Seoul, Korea, in June and a week-long training camp with the British and Korean Olympic Teams at their London 2012 training base at Loughborough University in July.

Asia is a member of Central Taekwondo Academy, based at Carronshore Community Centre, which is run by her proud parents David and Angie Bailey. Angie said: “We are so pleased for Asia and she really deserves her success. She works very hard and is totally dedicated to her training. She only started competing seriously last year and the rate at which she has progressed has been amazing.”

Chief Instructor David said: “We have been very busy this year promoting Olympic Taekwondo in primary schools and helping them with the Gold Award initiative. We hope Asia’s fantastic achievement will help inspire other youngsters to get involved and find out more about Olympic Taekwondo.”

BAILEY'S BRONZE PROVIDES BOOST FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Falkirk's Asia Bailey heads home from Egypt today, her baggage made slightly heavier by the addition of a World Championship medal after a fantastic performance in Sharm El Sheikh.
Bailey’s -42kg bronze was the only medal secured by Britain’s small squad of seven athletes but her performance and those of her team-mates suggest that the post London 2012 future is very bright for GB.
It was a great result from a junior athlete who has a promising future” said GB Taekwondo Performance Director Gary Hall.

She has worked hard at her club, Central Taekwondo Academy, and more recently within the GB Junior programme. Her success is fully deserved and is also a great boost for the newly established Scottish Development Programme.
Mum, Angie, was naturally delighted. “I’m so proud of my daughter. She has grown so much as a player over the past nine months both within the Scottish National Team and the GB Taekwondo Junior camps.And she’s listened to and been inspired by Sarah Stevenson at her Inspire Workshops. It has all paid off.”

Hall was pleased with the performances of the GB team throughout the five day tournament.
“Whilst we perhaps didn’t get the breaks that you need to get multiple medals at major championships, I’m encouraged by the way our athletes performed in Egypt. “Of course, we know all about George, Amin and Jamie who are based at the GB Academy. But we also had a strong showing from Feyi, Beth and Jack and that bodes well.

“We’ll now continue to focus on strengthening our Cadet and Junior programmes and the development activities which underpin the National Academy in Manchester.”

BELGIUM OPEN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

CENTRAL ACADEMY HAD REPRESENTATION AT A 4TH “A” CLASS TOURNAMENT IN A HECTIC 6 WEEK PERIOD. WE HAD FOUR YOUNG PLAYERS AT THE 33RD BELGIUM OPEN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. AMONGST THE 400 POOMSAE COMPETITORS WE HAD JOE EVANS, LAUREN MCKINLAY & ELLIE MUIR. IT WAS THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL EVENT BUT THEY APPROACHED THE DAUNTING TASK OF PERFORMING IN FRONT OF INTERNATIONAL REFEREES FROM ALMOST 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, WITH A VERY PROFESSIONAL MATURITY. THEY ALL MADE IT THROUGH TO THE FINAL OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY BUT AS IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE COMPETITION, THE JUDGING WAS SOMEWHAT ERATIC AND RESULTS DIDN’T GO THEIR WAY.
HOWEVER, THEY EXCELLED IN THEIR PAIRS, TEAMS AND FREESTYLE CATEGORIES. JOE & LAUREN TOOK GOLD IN CADET PAIRS, LAUREN & ELLIE TEAMED UP WITH CHLOE MCINTOSH FROM DYNAMIC TKD-ELGIN TO TAKE GOLD IN CADET FEMALE TEAM. FINALLY, ELLIE & LAUREN WERE AWARDED JOINT GOLD FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING AND VERY ENTERTAINING MUSICAL FREESTYLE PATTERNS. SO, ALL IN ALL, A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE AND GREAT RESULTS FOR CENTRAL’S TOP POOMSAE COMPETITORS.

IN THE KYORUGI EVENT THERE WERE 1100 PLAYERS FROM 48 COUNTRIES AND IT WAS LEFT TO JORDYN SMITH TO FLY THE FLAG FOR CENTRAL AND THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL TEAM. JORDYN IS ALREADY AN EXPERIENCED INTERNATIONAL COMPETITOR WITH A STRING OF SUCCESSES BEHIND HER, DESPITE STILL BEING ONLY 10 YEARS OLD. THIS WAS HER 1ST EVER “A” CLASS CADET EVENT. SHE WAS IN THE 11-13 YEAR OLDS AND COMPETING AT -29KG – SHE WEIGHED IN AT 26KG. INEVITABLY HER OPPONENTS WERE BIGGER AND OLDER THAN JORDYN. THIS DIDN’T STOP OUR LITTLE POWERHOUSE WHO, AGAINST ALL ODDS HAD 3 TREMENDOUS MATCHES AND CAME AWAY WITH A FANTASTIC “A” CLASS SILVER MEDAL. SHE WON HER QUARTER FINAL AGAINST GERMANY 7-6 AND PICKED UP A KNEE INJURY. ANOTHER TALL BELGIAN FOLLOWED IN THE SEMI-FINAL. AT 5-4 DOWN IN THE FINAL ROUND JORDYN PRODUCED SOME OF HER BEST EVER TKD, SCORING A SUPERB HEAD SHOT AND TWO COUNTER BACK KICKS TO TAKE

THE MATCH 14-7. SHE FACED HER OLD RIVAL HOLLIE HANKIN FROM LIVERPOOL. LEADING 1-0 AND IN TOTAL CONTROL SHE CONCEDED A HEADSHOT AND HAD TO CHASE THE GAME. SHE RAN OUT OF TIME BUT HAD PLAYED A FANTASTIC GAME. SHE WILL NOW GROW STRONGER AND WILL SOON BE UNBEATABLE IN HER CATEGORY. IT IS CERTAIN THERE WILL BE MANY MORE “A” CLASS MEDALS TO FOLLOW IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. WELL DONE JORDYN – AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT!

ASIA BAILEY AT THE 39TH DUTCH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

At the 39th Dutch Open International Championships in Eindhoven on 18th & 19th March 2012 there were 1003 competitors from 62 countries. Asia was competing in the Junior Female -44kg category.
In the first round she was drawn against Tena Marinovic from Croatia and soon found her range scoring an early head shot and taking the match with a comfortable 10 points to 4.
In the quarter final she faced Sultan Guzey from Germany. The first round was close but Asia dominated rounds 2 & 3 scoring some spectacular spinning head shots and winning with an impressive 16 points to 5.
The semi-final opponent was the strong Norwegian Silje Pettersen, who had beaten Team GB’s current European Bronze Medallist, Beth Worthington in the earlier rounds. Asia quickly took a 3 point round but the Norwegian pulled it back to 3-3 at the end of round 1. In round 2 Asia once again timed her high spinning counter attack to perfection and created a 4 point lead. In the final round she showed great professionalism, belying her limited experience of competing at this level, to see out the match by 9 to 3.
This fantastic win meant that Asia would become the first Scottish Junior ever to contest a Dutch Open Final! Her opponent in the final was Hristina Stoeva from Bulgaria, who in the earlier rounds had beaten National Team players from the Ukraine and Azerbeijan. Two weeks earlier Hristina had beaten the Swedish Open Champion on her way to a bronze medal at the German Open, where she was beaten in the semi-final by the eventual winner from Turkey. Asia was not fazed by the tough challenge and made a great start scoring with her trademark axe-kick. At 4-0 up with seconds left the Bulgarian scored a head shot of her own and levelled the match. The 2nd round was just as close until, for the third time during the day, Asia scored a classic 4 point head shot! Her opponent was forced to attack for the remainder of the game but Asia showed great strength and saw out the match 9 to 6.
Her displays drew much attention from spectators and coaches alike. It was a great climax to a great day. To become an A Class Gold Medallist in only her 3rd A Class competition is an unbelievable achievement. Under the guidance of the Scottish High Performance Coach, Master Nikos Jakubiak, Asia has progressed from novice to an A Class champion in less than 12 months. The potential for future success is immense.
Immediately after her success in Holland, Asia went straight into training with Team GB – preparing for her forthcoming trip to the World Junior Championships. If she continues with this momentum who knows what may happen!

"Click for Full report"

Asia in action at the German Open

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LARBERT TAEKWONDO STAR FIRST-EVER SCOT TO BE SELECTED FOR WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

LARBERT Taekwondo rising star Asia Bailey has made history today (February 29) by becoming the first-ever Scottish fighter to be selected for the British National Team for the World Junior Taekwondo Championships.The seven-strong squad, with Asia as the only Scot, will participate in the ninth edition of the WTF Junior World Championships in Egypt in April.

It’s an amazing achievement for Asia (14) who has only been competing in the Olympic sport for the past nine months!The Junior World Championships is a massive biennial event. It was last held in Mexico in 2010, attracting seven hundred athletes from ninety-seven countries, and the Egypt competition promises to be even bigger.

Asia, a third-year pupil at Larbert High School, said: “To be going to the World Championships is a dream come true. I was really happy to be part of the GB Squad but getting selected for such a big event is unbelievable."

Asia’s instructor is also her father - David Bailey, Seventh Dan Master at Falkirk’s Central Taekwondo Academy.
He said: “I am so proud of Asia. She is completely dedicated to her training and it’s great to see all her hard work paying off. To be going to the World Championships of an Olympic Sport in an Olympic year is incredibly exciting.”

He added: “Asia started Taekwondo at the age of 4 but it wasn’t until she took part in the Scottish Cup in May last year that we saw her amazing potential. She joined the Scottish National Team Development Squad and was quickly promoted to the Scottish Elite Squad. This led to her being invited for a trial at the National Olympic Academy in Manchester where she was given a place on the GB Junior Squad.

“After a clear victory against the current European Bronze Medallist at the Swedish Open, the GB Team selectors were hugely impressed and immediately called her up to the National Team.
“This could be the start of a long career for Asia, competing at the top level and following in the footsteps of her idol Sarah Stevenson MBE. Sarah is a former World Junior Champion, current World Senior Champion and favourite to take gold in London this summer.”

Before heading out to Egypt, Asia will undertake two weeks of intense preparation at the Olympic Academy where she’ll be training alongside the London 2012 Olympic Team. During March she’s also competing at the German Open in Hamburg and the Dutch Open in Eindhoven.

Master Nikos Jakubiak is Scotland’s Taekwondo Performance Coach. “High performance must be in Asia’s DNA, as her Mum and Dad have both won caps for the Scottish and British teams,” he said. “But she’s had to prove herself, and she has, spectacularly.
“Her rise in Taekwondo has been meteoric and her story is truly inspiring for other youngsters. She has an incredibly high work ethic, a genuine passion for the sport, she listens to our advice and she seeks our guidance.
The Performance Director and coaches of the British team only select people whom they believe can deliver
medal-winning performances, so they clearly believe Asia is destined for great things.

“What an exciting time for Asia. And what an exciting time for Scottish Taekwondo!”

Trelleborg Open 2012

The Scotland National Team Development Squad had 3 players at the A Class Trelleborg Open in Sweden – Feb 11th/12th. Asia Bailey (JF-44kg), Naomi Strathie (JF-42kg) and Jordyn Smith (Minors -30kg) all from Central Taekwondo Academy, did a fantastic job representing their club and country.

Asia, in her first ever A Class match, was drawn against Beth Worthington, who is the current European Bronze Medallist. Asia’s high kicking was very effective and she took the match 6-3. Beth is favourite to be selected for the forthcoming Junior World Championships in Egypt – this result gives the selectors something to think about! It was a very tough category and in her quarter final game Asia had to face the British Open winner Katrin Koppe from Germany. It was a very close game with the girls scoring at the same time with strong body shots. Asia’s high kicks missed by inches and the game ended up going to the German 4-2 but still a great first A Class tournament for Asia.

Next up was Naomi. At still only 13 this was not only Naomi’s first A Class event, it was also her first outing in the juniors. She was unlucky to draw the British Open winner Erin Berg Jacobsen from Norway. The first few exchanges saw Naomi come very close to scoring with head shots, including a denied video replay for a 4 point reverse turning kick! The Norwegian used her experience to pick off head shots of her own and even when well behind on points against one of the best female juniors in the competition, Naomi showed great courage and kept attacking to the end.

Jordyn was moved up into the -30kg category despite only weighing 26! She was in a straight final with Albina Tukhvatulinna from Russia. Jordyn gave a stunning display which drew praise from watching coaches, spectators and officials. The Russian girl threw everything at Jordyn but was unable to connect as Jordyn’s footwork and counter attacks were superb. Jordyn scored with both feet, back kicks and spins and ran out a 13-1 point gold medallist. Still only 10 years old Jordyn has now taken gold medals in Luxembourg, Germany and Sweden.

The girls went straight from competing in Sweden to training with the National Talent Squad in Manchester. With continued hard work prospects look fantastic for these possible future Olympians!

NATIONAL POOMSAE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

Central Taekwondo Academy once again made a big impression at the BTCB National Poomsae Championships in Sheffield. Master Bailey was competing the Masters 2 (50-59) category for the first time. He beat last year’s champion (and former world bronze medallist) Ali Pourteheri from Livingwell, to become British Champion 2012.

Angie Bailey retained her British title in the Masters 1 (40-49) category to become British Champion for the 3rd year running. Master Bailey and Angie then teamed up for the Pairs 2 division. It was a strong category
with many of the UKs most experienced poomsae players competing. Faultless performances of Koryo and Chonkwon were enough to take the British title and Master Bailey and Angie added the 2012 title to their two previous successes in this category – 2009 & 2010.

The biggest categories were the 10-13 year old cadet categories. Joe Evans paired with Lauren McKinlay to become British Champions in the tough Cadet Pairs division. Joe also paired with Ellie Muir to win the silver medal in the same category to establish Central as the strongest club in this division.
Ellie teamed up with Chloe and Louise from Dynamic to become British Champion in the Cadet Team Female division. Sam McKinlay won the K1 Senior 2 (+36) red belt category to become a kup grade British Champion for the 2nd year running.

The Central team finished in overall 3rd place behind serial winners Livingwell and the huge London Taekwondo Academy team. A great achievement considering the numbers of players we had this year’s event.

Full results were:
7 Golds - Master Bailey, Angie, Master Bailey/Angie (pairs), Angie, Lyndzie, Claire (team), Sam McKinlay,
Joe/Lauren (cadet pairs) and Ellie, Louise, Chloe (cadet team).
2 silvers - Joe/Ellie (cadet pairs) & Lauren in Freestyle Poomsae. 5 Bronze - Joe (cadet), Ellise/Niamh/Ciara, Joe/Evan/Stuart & Ellie/Lauren/Ciara (cadet teams) and Aidan Thompson (Cadet K1).

A big thank you to Tommy Evans, Michelle, Jacquie, Morag, Nicky, Dave & Peter for technical support throughout the weekend and to Master Bailey, Ann & Charles for judging. Without Central’s support the competition wouldn't have been as successful as it was.

Asia and Kristian Selected for GB Junior Squad

Central Academy now has no less than 4 students on the GB Taekwondo Development Programme. Asia and Kristian took part in 2 day trials at the National Academy in Manchester just before Christmas. Both have just been notified that they were successful and will be training amongst the UK’s top juniors during 2012. They join Jordyn and Naomi who were recently selected for the GB Cadet Squad. All four will be attending regular camps at the Manchester Academy and will be competing at A Class internationals across Europe in the coming months. Congratulations from everyone at Central and good luck in your quest to reach the top!

Angie Promoted to Class 1 Referee

At the BTCB Referee Course in Manchester on 14th & 15th Jan. attended by 83 BTCB referees and judges, Angie became one of only two candidates to be chosen for promotion to Class 1 Centre Referee. Angie is now one of only eight Class 1 Referees in the UK and the only Class 1 in Scotland. With a bit more experience of referring nationally, Angie will be eligible for the WTF International Referee Course. Well done, Angie – congratulations from all at Central.

Black Belts Xmas 2011

Jordyn Smith and Naomi Strathie
Selected for GB National Cadet Squad

Jordyn Smith and Naomi Strathie
Selected for GB National Cadet Squad

“Jordyn and Naomi attended a training camp over the weekend of 12th & 13th November at the National GB Academy in Manchester.
Over 60 of the country’s best cadet players attended camps in the hope of being selected for the GB National Cadet Talent Squad. All were put through their paces and after a series of test matches only 15 to 20 cadets were to be called back for inclusion in the national squad.

Both Jordyn and Naomi won their test matches and impressed the national high performance coaches enough to be selected. They will now be attending training on a regular basis in Manchester with a view to representing GB at the highest level in the future.

Congratulations and well done to the girls. Their hard work and dedication is paying off. They are now on the path to future Olympic Games!”

Congratulations to all our new Black Belts and
Black Belt promotions.

Scottish Representatives in British Team at the European Masters Games

“Check out this British Open promotional clip”

“BTCB Scotland Report about European Masters Games”

10K Challenge

10K Results
5K Results

6th World Poomsae Championships, Vladivostok

Central Academy’s Angie Bailey achieved Great Britain’s best ever result in the 1st Masters individual female category though not without agony in the semi-finals. She was so close to qualifying for the final with some confident poomsae producing a very high average score but was agonizingly pipped by just 0.01 of a mark for the last of the eight qualification places by home favourites Russia, who went on to take a bronze. Angie, who had a 6th place finish at the European Championships, had to settle for a world ranking of 9th. Finishing ahead of Finland, Mexico, Singapore, Canada, Australia and USA was a great achievement. This goes to show how much Angie has progressed recently through her hard work and dedication. Angie will continue to train hard to improve and will hopefully gain more success at the highest level in the future.

Great Britain Taekwondo Team for the 6th WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

Click link to view report

British Championships

There is a great report from the British Championships on the BTCB website to read the report
Click Here

ANGIE AT EUROPEAN POOMSAE
CHAMPIONSHIPS – ITALY

Angie had a very successful trip to the European Championships. The tournament, held in Genoa, was by
far the biggest and best Europeans to date with 250 athletes from 30 countries. Angie made it through
to the final of the 1st Masters division after performing Chonkwon and Sipjin, finishing ahead of Finland,
Serbia, Austria (Belgian Open Silver Medallist) and France (who went on to win European Bronze).
She performed Pyongwon and Jitae in the final and finished in a very creditable 6th Place. Angie was given
a 0.5 deduction for her finish position in Jitae. The judges had been told not to make any deductions for the
finish position in Keumgang or Jitae but for this error Angie would have been ahead of both Turkey and France
in the fourth place Bronze Medal position. The 6th place finish was however enough to impress the UK Poomsae Committee and Angie has now been selected to represent the UK again, this time at the World Championships in Vladivostok, Russia at the end of July.

Congratulations to Angie. Click on the link below for a flavour of the event.