Dafydd & Fraser in Europe 2010
Dafydd Sanders and Fraser McConnell have travelled to Europe to compete at the German Open in Hamburg (13 - 14 March) and the Dutch Open 2010 in Eindhoven (20 - 21 March).
Latest update Sat 20 March
Older posts from Wed 10th March
Sat, 20 March 2010 - 4:52:40 pm
Post from Dafydd Sanders
I lost 8 to 7 in the last 4 seconds to the Austrian I fought at the German Open. I was ahead with four seconds to go and I believe it was my best performance yet. I've learned so much from these two competitions and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I am determined to win at an A Class tournament before the next World Champs.
Sat, 20 March 2010 - 9:58:20 am
Post from Dafydd Sanders
The Dutch Open is twice the size of the German Open. Me and Fraser have fights really close to each other. We warmed up together and I coached Fraser. He had a really tough fight against the French fighter Christopher Dubois, 24:4 to the french fighter. I had to leave immediately after so couldn't be there for him. Bas arrived, and we ran over to my ring. I had to quickly get myself together, turn my focus to my fight, get into the ring and trust my processes to get me through. I won 9:6 and may be fighting the same Austrian from the German Open in my next round. This would have been much better if we had a coach. Going it alone like we are, seeing all the countries as massive teams is teaching me the lesson of self sufficency and what it means to be kiwi.
Fri, 19 March 2010 - 6:28 pm Me and Fraser's weigh-in went well. Ready for tomorrow, relaxed still. In Fraser's first fight he's drawn French fighter Christopher Dubois from TKD Prades-le-lez. I've drawn a Canadian, team mate of the German Open winner of my division. Both me and Fraser have 4 fights to the final. Looking forward to tomorrow. A few of the competitors waiting to be weighted in ------>>> |  |
Thu, 18 March 2010 - 7:34 pm Made it to Eindhoven, checked in to hotel. Relaxing, just waiting for weigh in tomorrow. Confidfent we will make weight. Relaxed and ready to go to work.
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Wed, 17 March 2010 - 11:31:00 pm Trained with Bas's club Horangi - Taekwondo Mijdrecht. Awesome training and made many friends. Check out the pics. |  |
Fri, 19 March 2010 - 6:28 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Me and Fraser's weigh-in went well. Ready for tomorrow, relaxed still. In Fraser's first fight he's drawn French fighter Christopher Dubois from TKD Prades-le-lez. I've drawn a Canadian, team mate of the German Open winner of my division. Both me and Fraser have 4 fights to the final. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Tue, 16 March 2010 - 9:28:00 am
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
We didn't make it to Eindhoven. Staying in Mijdrecht with Bas. Checking out Amsterdam today and we'll probably get to Eindhoven Wednesday night.
Mon, 15 March 2010 - 11:56:00 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
We're in Holland. Flew in a small plane the size of a pencil case. Got some good training and now ready to sleep. Tired, but have posted some pictures. Check them out on the gallery.
Sun, 14 March 2010 - 12:58:00 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Saturday was a long day. All the teams around us were grouped into their counties, it was pretty cool how the different clubs supported each other. eg. All the clubs from Spain sat together and supported each other, there was always someone there to step in as a coach, trainer, or runner. It was the same for all the other counties.
And then there as me and Fraser from New Zealand!! Epic!!! We felt right at home.
Saw many of the same faces that were at the Worlds. And most of the teams are heading off to the Dutch Open next week. Yeah, it’s a big tournament, but like I said it’s also like going to the Regional’s back home, same faces and you know you’ll see most of them at Nationals.
We got back to the hotel after 10pm after the finals. Great watching them, only one thing better is being in the final.
We haven’t plan much for Sunday. Main objectives for today - sleep in, rest, reset focus onto the Dutch Open, talk to Tess, go to the internet café to check in with home, pack ready for tomorrow.
We fly out of Hamburg at 6.15pm Monday and have to check in around 4pm. We will leave the hotel 3.45pm (and we’ll still get to the airport early). It’s only an hour flight to Amsterdam, 1 1/2 hrs on the train to Eindhoven and 5 min taxi to the hotel, we spend longer at the airport.
Apparently if we don’t arrive at our hotel by 6pm they will let our room go. I hope our travel manager (mum!!!) has told them we will be late and to save our rooms…
Looking forward to Holland and catching up with old friends and the new friends made in Germany. Friends have organised a training session with a Dutch club next week, be good for a bit of a blow out.
Thanks to everyone who has emailed & txt us and left messages on Facebook. Feels like we have a bigger team.
Sat, 13 March 2010 - 6:06:52 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Won my first fight against Austria 3 to 2, then lost to Serbia on golden point. Been a tough day coaching at same time. It was well worth it. I'll reset and prepare for next week.
Sat, 13 March 2010 - 2:49:00 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Fraser lost to a German 11 to 5. He fought fantastically again. He had no deductions but he was able to force 3 1/2 out of his opponent. Close fight, great to watch. Very proud. He looked like he could have gone the whole way.
Sat, 13 March 2010 - 12:25:14 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Sat, 13 March 2010 - 9:04:13 am
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Turns out we are using the La Just System. We sorted out the foot guards. Ready to go. The organisers had offered us help with a coach but we are fighting at different times so don't have to worry about finding a coach to help us out.
There are 800 competitors from 45 countries. Why haven't we been doing these sooner.
Fri, 12 March 2010 - 17:18 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Both Fraser and I both made weight. I feel good, ready to rock. Recognised a lot of my competitors from the World Champs. Fraser has nearly 60 competitors in his division.
It's like the North Islands - only bigger, much bigger. Great to be here.
Fri, 12 March 2010 - 11:36 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
We will be heading out to the Sporthalle in a couple of hours. Registrations and weigh in from 2pm today. Only another 3 hours to go.
Thu, 11 March 2010 - 12:49:28 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
I finally found an internet cafe, so hopefully I´ll be able to come back to I can write you some more.
The trip has been great so far. The stopover in Dubai was cool. What a sight looking over a city that is covered in sand. When we got off the plane the fog was intense and I could only see 15m in front.
Flying into Germany there was a massive contrast. We went from a foggy, hot desert country to the icy and frozen land of Germany.
Been spending most of our time walking around the beautiful city of Hamburg.
We found the Sporthalle (venue for the German Open 2010) which is about a 20 minute walk from our hotel.
Dafydd outside the venue for the German Taekwondo Open 2010
Its freezing and there is snow everywhere. I went for a run this morning and I was wiping ice off my face. The locals tell us this is one of the coldest winters in Europe in 25 years.
Anyway, going to keep looking around. Will write more tomorrow after Fraser I have had completed our registration.
Dafydd
Above: Dafydd - view of frozen canal Above: Fraser and the snowman
Above: Canal frozen over Above: Fraser outside SportHalle - venue for the German Open 2010
Wed, 10 March 2010 - 4:29:00 pm
Posted by Dafydd Sanders
Fraser and I arrived in Hamburg around 1pm. It's so cold here. After checking in to our hotel went for a walk. Walked for about an hour around the city, it's nice. Trying to stay awake till the night time. My body still thinks its Thursday monring 4.30am.
Yeah, it's as cold as it looks. Canal frozen over.
Dafydd
