Mallow TKD and KB Club started the year with a stunning outing at the recent European TKD Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The Irish men’s, ladies and junior boys team secured team gold medals in sparring. A massive haul of medals was also collected in the various individual categories. Mallow was put the map by the outstanding performances of Mallow TKD and Kickboxing Club members Jordan Dalton, Aoife Foley and Julian Dalton. Jordan, who is an instructor at the Mallow TKD and KB Club, won individual gold in junior sparring, and silver in pattern. The atmosphere in the Sport 11 Stadium came to a boiling point when Jordan put on the gloves as the last member of the senior men’s team! The score against the Dutch opponents was level at 2-2 when Jordan stepped onto the matts. His opposition from the Netherlands started very confidently and the bout was very even for the first few seconds, but then Jordan stepped it up a gear and rattled his opponent with a flurry of punches and excellent kicking combinations. At the end, the 17 year old proved way too strong and ring-savvy for the Dutchman. The excitement in the arena was ferocious and Jordan’s team mates lifted him up in glory after he secured team gold in his first outing in the senior ranks. Jordan’s younger brother followed in dominating his weight category. He left no question open who was the best in Europe under 40kg! Julian also helped his team to silver.
In sparring and pattern, Aoife Foley, who is a teacher of Davis College made an impression that her opponents won’t forget for a while. Despite her gentle, ladylike appearance, she left no one in doubt that she would turn her enormous dedication and long training hours into gold in Budapest. The Mallow instructor and head referee of Team Ireland was laughing: “Aoife is the gentlest of souls and a pure lady, always willing to help others. She is enormously dedicated to her students at Davis College where she teaches German and Irish, but when she puts on her sparring gear she turns into a fighting machine who knows only one gear! She was ploughing through her opponents and would not give them an inch of breathing space until victory was secured. If I have to describe Aoife, then it is commitment and dedicated love to her chosen sport, as well as her profession as a teacher. She is s real team player and if you are lucky enough to be on her team she will back you to the end. Her TKD team ladies and her colleagues in Davis College are blessed to have her.”
When speaking to Aoife herself, she seemed almost embarrassed to comment on her achievements. All she wanted to say was how grateful she was to her instructor Mrs. Dalton and Davis College for getting the opportunity to represent her country at European level. “What next?” I asked her. “Time for a break?” “There is no time really,” she replied. “The Leaving Cert exams are just around the corner and I really want my students to do well, so lots of work there. And then I am hoping to qualify for the kickboxing squad which will represent Ireland at the next Kickboxing World Championships in Orlando/USA this September.”
Well, good luck with that, Aoife, Jordan and Julian. May you bring more glory to Mallow!