UK Open Karate Championships
2010-02-28
The SKA Karate Team have been training hard this year and they finally got to put their training into practice at the UK Open Championships in Stourbridge on the 28th Feb 2010. This competition was primarily being used to warm up for the up-coming English Regional Championships on 20th March. All 8 team members played their part in the fantastic results achieved by the SKA and they came away with 5 golds, 4 silvers and 3 bronze medals.
In the kata events the SKA won 4 out of the 5 events they entered, including a clean sweep in the open grade 9yrs and under kata where MICHAEL HOLMES took gold, LEWIS HOLMES won the silver and TONI SHERING won the fight off for the bronze. This was excellent in a group of 30-40 competitors. In the 10-12yrs mixed open grade kata, KATIE PHARO performed well but lost to the eventual winner, Bleu Parris of Khalsa Karate in the second round. She did well to obtain a flag as she has only just become a 4th kyu and should be proud of the level she already competes at. SIAN BARTON and ELLIE BARTON won 3-4 rounds each before they met in the semi-final. Ellie won the place in the final and Sian went on to win the fight off for the bronze. In the final Ellie could not quite match Bleu’s power but she showed a lot of improvement and took a well earned Silver. CHLOE PHARO and BETHANY SCOULDING were the last individual kata competitors to compete for the SKA. Bethany has gained a lot of power this year and although she lost 2-1 in the first round to a male competitor, with continued hard work she will see better results soon. Chloe was unstoppable and won all 5 rounds to take the gold in a tough group.
The two SKA kata teams have been training well together and both took gold in their respective groups. Well done to LEWIS HOLMES, TONI SHERING and MICHAEL HOLMES for winning the 9yrs and under team kata and to SIAN BARTON, CHLOE PHARO and ELLIE BARTON for winning the 10-15yrs team kata.
In kumite, LEWIS HOLMES won bronze in the 7yrs and under open grade after winning 4 rounds. TONI SHERING won a silver in the girls 8-9yrs but frustratingly had the potential to win the final. MICHAEL HOLMES lost in the second round of the boys 8-9yrs as did KATIE PHARO in the girls 10-11yrs kumite. BETHANY SCOULDING fought well in the 12-13yrs, +45k but lost to the winner in the first round. She did end up gaining the most points against the winner so well done to her. The team had to wait a very long time for the final two kumite competitors but they made it worth the wait! ELLIE BARTON and CHLOE PHARO made it to the final of the 12-13yrs, -45k where Chloe took the gold and Ellie the silver. Well done to Chloe for winning double gold and well done to Ellie for demonstrating much improved kumite techniques – a great way to end the day!
Overall it was a very successful and worthwhile day with the kata going to plan and the kumite perhaps suffering from lack of mat experience. The team are now working hard to prepare for the English Regionals later this month. Good luck!!
Ooosshhaaaaaaaa!!
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