SPORT 71
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Motorsport
IRISH National Poomsae
Team competitor Niamh
Buffini, student of Clon-
dalkin Taekwondo Club
and Coach at Tallaght’s
South Dublin Taekwondo,
recently represented Ire-
land at the World Univer-
sity
Taekwondo
Championships in Spain.
Comperting in the tech-
nical discipline of poom-
sae, 3rd Dan Buffini, was
the country's sole repre-
sentative in this division
for which she was repre-
senting CUSAI (College &
Universities Association of
Ireland) and her college IT
Tallaght.
And after much-focused
training and two excellent
performances Niamh man-
aged to secure a 12th place
finish - a superb achieve-
ment in the face of some of
the world's top competi-
tors.
It was a superb outing for
the Clondalkin native who
is currently involved in in-
tense training for both
poomsae competition and
her upcoming 4th Dan pro-
motion test in December.
The event was attended
by 49 of the 191 WTF
member nations in Vigo
where much of the current
and upcoming talent in
Olympic Style Taekwondo
was on display.
Spain won gold in the di-
vision through Laura Kim
while silver went to Korea,
and bronze to Germany.
Delighted with the suc-
cess of Buffini, Coach
Master Robert Taaffe said
“Niamh gave two of her
best performances to date
at a top level competition.
“Her preparation, focus
and attitude prior to and
during the event was ex-
cellent.
“Ireland as relative min-
nows in this discipline of
technical
taekwondo
which is dominated by
funded and government-
backed powerhouses, and
is still climbing the ladder,
but I am glad to say that
with recent commitment
and involvement with our
colleagues and competi-
tive advisories at events,
Irish Poomsae is now a
well recognised team in
this sporting forum.”
Buffini is continuing her
preparations for a possible
appearance at the World
Championships in Uzbek-
istan in October this year.
Tohill remains in hunt
Basketball
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OBLATE Dynamos were
among the winners at the
2010 Basketball Ireland
Awards.
Their own Tammy
McKenna picked up the
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