European Masters Report: Stuttgart, Germany November 16th - 18th 2007
Written by EditorOnly four of the Squad went to these Championships in Germany as this year has proved very expensive with the World Masters Championships being in Brazil earlier in the year and of course the Squad do not get funding and foot their own travel and accommodation. They still managed to come home with one Silver medal, thus maintaining their 100% record in International competitions.
The hero on this occasion was Eric Small who has been with the squad for past 18 months. Eric had a bye in the first round with 10 in the group and in the quarter final won against Wolter of Germany and in the semi final he beat Cantrell of Britain to earn a place in the final against last years champion Gudbjornson of Iceland.
Eric was up on attacks in the final but with 20 seconds to go got caught with a yuko and hadn't enough time to get it back.
Also on day one Harry McGuigan was in action. There were only 8 in this group for over 65 year olds. Harry had got to the final last year and also to the World final this year at 66 kilos but moved up a weight to 73 kilos where he was drawn against the 73 kilo World Champion Radcicov of Russia in his first fight. It was anybody's until the last few seconds when the Russian got a koka. Harry came back in the repechage with a win over Dressel of Germany before losing the Bronze Medal fight to Bschlangaul of Germany.
On the Sunday it was the turn of Ray Stears and Donal Tannam. Ray had over 40 in his category and was first out against the Italian Manzoni. Within the first thirty seconds he done his favourite turn over and had the Italian pinned. However despite the screams for osaekomi the referee and two judges ignored it and called matte. The fight went the distance with the Italian getting the nod at the flags. (There was no golden score at this competition).
Unfortunately the Italian lost his next and that was Ray out as it was single repechage. Donal Tannam got a bye in the first round in his 22 man category before throwing Schwesshelm of Germany for wazari to qualify for the quarter finals. Unfortunately he lost to Chinchilla of Norway and in his repechage fight he lost to former French Olympian Phillippe Tosseng.
Pictured below (left to right): Eric Small, Ireland (silver), Gudbjornsson, Iceland (gold), Muravyev, Russia (bronze) and Wolter, Germany (bronze).
