2008 Highlights
Caledonian Taekwondo Finishes 2008 as the Number One Club in Scotland
Its been a great year for the club and a well traveled one! Starting with the 2008 Scottish Open at the end of last year the club has went on to perform exceptionally well. We finished number one at the Scottish Open, top placed Scottish club at the Scottish Cup, Belgian Open, British Championships and second placed at the British International Open.
 
As well as all this we had two players Dale Rhodie and Stephen O'Connor becoming the first Scottish males athletes to ever medal at the Belgian Open. Laura Sweeney retained her title as UK Champion and Ewan Harrison won the British International Open.
 
The club spent six weeks in Korea over the summer and came back fitter and more skilled then ever before. Worldmark came on board as club sponsors and allowed the team to attend Korea dressed as a club.
 
Thomas Anderson received one £1000 sponsorship from a local business man who was keen to help out after hearing about the club's work. Thomas trained with the number one high school in Korea. Not bad for a red tags!
Straight after Korea club coach John Cullen was off to Beijing to commentate for the BBC's coverage of Taekwondo at the Olympic Games.
The controversary of Sarah Stevenson's quarter final match was seen witnessed by John who watched as the decision was overturned and Sarag went on to claim a bronze medal. Britain's first ever!
John has since went on to work for the BBC's 606 online forum dedicated to Taekwondo and hosted a highlights package of the British International for SKY. He also authored, with the BBC's Nick Mullins, a media perspective of Taekwondo at the Olympic Games that has since went on to be published on the WTF, ETU and BTCB websites.
  
In addition to all these competitions the clubs attended several grass roots competitions throughout the UK and returned with a impressive tally of 21 gold medals, 20 silver and 14 bronze.
 
We held the three Police League events again for the boys and held the first ever girls only event. These events allow us to introduce the competitive side of sport Taekwondo in a friendly environment.
 
We also ran three camps over the school holidays that were deemed a great success by all the participants These camps are one of the best ways of helping children make significant progress quickly.
The club also extended its afterschool programme to 23 primary schools and 3 nurseries in Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. We work with local authorities to offer work experience placements to ten young adults from schools in East & West Dunbartonshire.
Some of the events we attend can be slighlty less conventional. We were delighted when we were asked by the Odeon Cinema in Braehead to perform a demonstration for the premier of the Kung Fu Panda film. All the kids had a great time and Kung Fu Panda even joined in with one of the training sessions!
When new member join the club they all follow the same programme that allows them to enjoy the benefits of the elelmets of Taekwondon. In 2008 we held tweleve gardings, helping members to foolow an organisewd system of development. We also took part in BTCB Scotland's Dan garding and were delighted when one of our children and three of our cadets, Lee Klos, Dilexsan Francis Alosious and Andrew Graham were promoted to 1st Dan. Junior Kevin Smith was promoted to 2nd Dan.
Finally, thanks to all the players, coaches, parents, helpers, volunteers and organisations that have helped make 2008 our best year yet.
John Haggerty
Head Instructor
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