16th British Open Tai Chi Championships
Dan Docherty
The oldest Tai Chi tournament in Europe continues to draw competitors from far and wide. William Nelson brought a very capable team over from France where they don't seem to get enough action while Ian Cameron brought a few students down from Edinburgh who did well in what I understand was their first tournament.
The contingent from Ireland this time also included a couple of Bagua full contact fighters both of whom won their matches against Shaolin and Tiger Crane opponents. In many respects the former match, featuring Patrice Poujol, was one of the most entertaining with both men trying some very ambitious techniques - much to the amusement of the crowd.
Another paradox was Tai Chi's Paul Silverstraale from Sweden against Wu Chi (No Ultimate) Boxing's Peter Davis. Paul was always in control of this one. Niall Adams set himself the ambitious task of competing in both pushing hands and full contact and did well in both, while the veteran Sami Berik only had to go through the motions in an easy win .
The Tai Chi lads who lost both gave their all and in Christer Kilstrom's case he didn't lose by much.
It was in some respects a day for the new centurions with Gary Wragg's son Toby winning his weight division in both fixed and moving step, as did the formidable Vicki Marsh in the ladies events.
The old soldiers were not to be out done and the indomitable Marnix Wells proved he can still mix it with the youngsters with third place in both fixed and moving step.
Beginner internal hand form
1st Leigh Tsang
2nd Andrew Beeming
3rd Rosamund Bird
Intermediate internal hand form
1st Stuart Thomas
2nd Ehsanullah Shafiq
3rd Lai Marsh
Intermediate internal weapon forms
1st Keith Morrison
2nd Lai Marsh
3rd Charlotte Galloway
Junior hand form
1st Ryan Devitt
2nd Troy Kenchington
3rd Ethan Simmonds
Junior weapon forms
1st Ryan Devitt
2ns Troy Kenchington
3rd Ethan Simmonds
Veterans hand forms
1st Fran Bennet
2nd Ray Mansell
Open ladies internal hand form
1st Vicky Armstrong
2nd Kiyoko Hay
3rd Christine Hall
Open ladies internal weapon
1st Dounia Ahmed
2nd Lynne Wood
3rd Fran Bennet
Open men internal hand form
1st Stuart Thomas
2nd Barry Phelan
3rd Rhodri Jones
Open ladies tai chi hand form
1st Vicky Armstrong
2nd Theresa Draper
3rd Katy Bowen
Open men tai chi hand form
1st Matt Hammond
2nd Barry Phelan
3rd Hassan Hassan
Open tai chi sabre forms
1st Hassan Hassan
2nd Kevin Kilminster
3rd Zorica Rajic
Open tai chi spear
1st Christopher Thornton
2nd Kevin Kilminster
3rd Des Mc Dermot
Open tai chi sword form
1st Matt Hammond
2nd Barry Phelan
3rd Stuart Thomas
Pushing hands
Fixed Step Ladies
Light - 1st E. Ogole; 2nd L. Tsang; 3rd T. Draper
Medium - 1st V. Marsh; 2nd F. Meherali; 3rd S. Collins
Heavy - 1st C. Galloway; 2nd E. Docherty
Fixed Step Men
Under 67k 1st T. Wragg; 2nd R. Lambert; 3rd. A. Barinov
Over 67k 1st N. Maury; 2nd K, Morrison; 3rd M. Hammond
Under 77k 1st M. Abosch; 2nd N. Tomlinson; 3rd S.Henson
Under 83k 1st S.Logan; 2nd P. Sandison; 3rd C. Willberg
Under 89k 1st B. Cointrel; 2nd D. Scorey; 3. M. Wells
Over 89k 1st I. Joseph; 2nd A. Bhatti; 3. N. Rozier
Moving Step Ladies
Light - 1st Juliana Wilson; 2nd E.Ogole
Heavy - 1st V. Marsh; 2nd F. Meherali
Moving Step Men
Under 67k 1st T. Wraff; 2nd J. Grondin; 3rd P.Allen
Under 72k 1st H. Murgg; 2nd S. Henson; 3rd N. Maury
Under 78k 1st N. Tomlinson; 2nd N. Adams; 3rd N. Schooler
Under 83k 1st C. Russell; 2nd S.Logan; 3rd C. Willberg
Under 89k 1st B. Cointrel; 2nd M. Grant; 3rd M. Wells
Over 89k 1st Ian Joseph; 2nd A. Bhatti; 3rd P. White