Laois teenage blackbelt wins two European Taekwon-Do medals

A young Laois teenager who is a blackbelt in Taekwon-Do has just won two medals for Ireland at European level.

Shane Allison from Ballybrittas only turned 16 in April, but is already excelling for his country.

A TY student in St. Paul’s Secondary School in Monasterevin, Shane began training in Taekwon-Do from a young age, initially with Portarlington Taekwon-Do and for the last number of years with Nio Taekwon-Do Newbridge. 

He now is a 1st Dan Black belt with numerous National titles, however his recent success at the European Championships was exceptional.

Shane competed in three separate categories at the European Championships.

On Thursday April 28 he competed in Individual Male Special Technique where, while he did not place on this occasion he competed really well and hopes to make the podium at future campaigns.

Shane went on to compete in the Male Junior Team Sparring category on Sunday May 1 and together with Finn Martin, Adam Power, Sam Keogh, Joey Shaw and Dannan Fox they battled hard, making it through to the final and taking Silver.

He spoke to the Leinster Express afterwards.

"Its feels amazing after all the training and hard work I put in for it to pay off. It’s also amazing to watch other competitors on the Irish team that I’ve trained with get medals cause I know how much hard work they have put in.

He trains twice a week at Nio Taekwon-Do in Newbridge.

"I also train at home and in the gym most days a week. When squad training is on with the National Team we train every second week in either Cork, Dublin or Limerick usually from around 10am to 4pm. It’s a lot but I enjoy it," Shane said.

He is appreciative of the support he is getting.  

"I’d thank my trainers from Nio Taekwon-Do in Newbridge, Hong Looi and Sabina Mason for the amount of time and support they have given me and my old trainers Nigel Stobie from Portarlington Taekwondo and Tommy Delaney from Combat Kickboxing in Mountmellick.

"Everyone from team Ireland, all the coaches, the management team and the competitors. Most importantly I’d like to thank my parents for driving me all over the place for different competitions and training sessions and always supporting me," he said.