Family affair for pair
Father and son team make history
A father and his son are set to make sporting history as the first family pair to compete for Scotland at the European Taekwondo Championships.
Colin, 41, and Arran Stewart, 14, from Rutherglen have been called up to their nation’s squad for the April event in Liverpool.
Arran, a Trinity High School pupil, has represented Scotland unofficially in the past and is one of two selected from 40 hopefuls to perform in the under70 kg category.
But what makes the trip south even more exciting is the fact his dad Colin will be joining him on the mat in the veteran section.
It is the first time a father and son have competed in the championships together.
“I’m proud as punch to be fighting alongside him,” Colin told the Reformer after he received the news of his successful trial process which started in November 2016.
“A lot of parents will sit at the side or in the stands and watch, so to be down there and be part of it all is really amazing.
“I don’t know if Arran feels the same with his old dad being there but it feels really good.”
This will be the first year Arran, who is also a qualified taekwondo coach, can be selected for the official Scotland team at the under-17 junior level but getting to this stage has not been straightforward.
He was teaching a class last October when he broke his metatarsal bone.
Since then, he has continued teaching while recovering – leading Scotland coaches to select him for the European Championships based on his previous experience.
Colin said: “We all meet up for the national team and do taekwondo every second Sunday and you are asked if you want to try out for the Scotland squad.
“They look at your sparring technique, your commitment, overall fitness and if you are capable of fighting in competitions.
“Arran was still turning up even after he broke his foot so he was picked based on what they knew about him previously.
He added: “I’m nervous because I’ve only been doing taekwondo for the past two and a half years. I’m going there to compete and to show that someone my age can do this.
“I’ve also got Type 1 Diabetes and people I know with it are put off sport but I hope this will show that if I can do it, anyone can do it.”
The pair will travel with a team of 40 on April 24 and will battle it out with over 25 countries on Merseyside.