Pettycur Bay will host TaeKwon-do umpires

PETTYCUR LEISURE COMPLEX TO HOST PRESTIGIOUS TAEKWON-DO UMPIRES’ COURSE

Having established a strong relationship with the British, and indeed, international  TaeKwon-Do family, over the past few years, The Bay Hotel & Pettycur Leisure Complex in Kinghorn is to host a prestigious Umpires Course for the British Isles TaeKwon-Do Federation, (the BITF) over the weekend of 22^nd to 24^th February 2019.

To be hosted by Grandmaster Hutchison, the UK’s homegrown Grandmaster who holds at IX degree, the course will be conducted by another famous Grandmaster, Michael Prewett, (IX degree), President of the EITF and the Umpire Committee.

Attracting 1^st Degree Black belt to Grandmasters, from throughout Europe and the rest of the world, there are now more than seventy devotees of the sport due to attend, with over forty from the UK alone. The event is also delighted to have confirmed the attendance of Professor Ri Yong Son, the ITF president, who will be visiting the UK for the very first time. 

The weekend will include both practical and classroom based sessions on umpiring combined with social events, such as a Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening for all those attending.

The Bay Hotel regularly hosts special Seminar & Grading weekends for Senior Black Belts from 1^st K up to 6^th degree black belts, with one just having been held in January as a  prelude up to the International Umpires Course.

“We have a long history with this sport in our family, and now through the business too,” said Alan Wallace of the complex, “Several family members practice the sport, including myself for thirty years, my daughter Laura, who has been training for her 1^st Degree, and my brother Tommy, who has recently returned to practice, having in the past, competed alongside me in the Scotland team.”

Added Alan, who attained his 4^th degree Black Belt early last year: “We are all really excited to be hosting the prestigious Umpires Event, which is a first for us. It’s going to be fantastic to look after President Ri Yong Son on his very first trip to the UK. It’s the icing on the cake for everyone attending that he has accepted our invitation.”

“We regularly look after many of the leading aficionados of the sport in the UK during the grading weekends, usually around every two months, and now we are going one step better with the Umpires Course,” said Alan.

“Last year saw 50 years of Taekwon-Do in the UK, and it’s growing in popularity all the time. We want to do all we can to promote it here in the UK and Scotland,” said Tommy Wallace.  

“We are looking forward to hearing all about Grandmaster Hutchison’s trip to Pyongyang in North Korea last November to mark what would have been the 100^th birthday of Taekwon-Do founder, General Choi,” said Tommy. “It was attended by many Masters from all over the world.”

The BITF has produced many champions at National, European and World level, including Claire Crosbie, Elaine O’Toole, Nicky Orr, Stevi-Lee Orr and Gary Hutchison to name but a few. Alan Wallace, himself, was a member of previous Scottish teams and was a previous winner on the individual Gold Medal winner at the European Championship in Russia.

Grandmaster Hutchison said: “It’s always an absolute pleasure to come to Pettycur Bay where we receive the warmest possible welcome from Alan, Tommy and all the family and staff. The facilities here for training and grading are second to none and the setting and views truly inspirational. The Umpires’ Course is a further strengthening of our relationship with the business, and the Wallace family.”