Hanko-Ryu International Karate
Championships
Our own association,
Hanko-Ryu, hosted a competition on 18-19th
October 2008 in Harlow. Naturally, the whole of the
SKA squad were in attendance plus a couple of extra
participants. All of the kata was on Saturday and
kumite on Sunday. Although it could have been
squeezed into a one day event it was nice to finish
by 2-3pm both days. Coach Clare was judging all of
the kata events and helping on the Sunday so it was
down to coaches Simon and Lisa to mentor the squad.
The Saturday was the
quieter of the 2 days but there was some stiff
competition from Kingston Martial Arts, AMA, Kaizen,
Hanko-Ryu Harlow and Hanko-Ryu London. With the SKA
competing only in the teams and under 12yrs groups,
they did extremely well to top the medal table on
day 1 with 5 golds, 4 silvers and 6 bronze medals.
All of the squad put in outstanding kata
performances and all of the SKA squad returned with
a medal. Well done to non-squad member Graeme
Richardson for attending his first competition.
In the 9yrs and under
kata SKA had a clean sweep of medals. 7yr old
British Champion MICHAEL HOLMES took the gold after
5 rounds. TONI SHERING, also 7yrs, took a well
deserved silver and the two bronze medals went to
9yr old newcomer KATIE PHARO and 5yr old LEWIS
HOLMES. EDWARD VAN MEERKERK was unlucky not to medal
but he only lost to team mates Michael and Katie,
placing 5th in repecharge. GRAEME
RICHARDSON, who was competing for the first time,
did manage to win one round. It was a huge group so
well done to all for this great achievement.
The older squad
members also did well with British Champion CHLOE
PHARO taking gold in
the 10-12yrs, 3rd kyu+ group. In this
group bronze medals went to English Champions SIAN
BARTON and ELLIE BARTON. The silver went to Lara
Perry of Hanko-Ryu Harlow. There was another all SKA
final in the 10-12yrs, 4th kyu and below
group where BETHANY SCOULDING took the gold and
LOUISE HICKS won silver. Well done girls!
RYAN BEAVINGTON
looked his best yet in kata and took a well deserved
bronze in the boys 10-12yrs, 3rd kyu+
after 3 rounds. This group was won by Sean Perry of
Hanko-Ryu Harlow so well done to him. ROD BARTON
looked on form until he forgot the second to last
move on a new kata in the final; but he won silver
and did very well to perform as well as he did with
such little preparation. Well done to Paul Keates
for winning the group.
In the team kata the
SKA’s CHLOE PHARO, ELLIE BARTON and SIAN BARTON once
again took the gold in the 3rd kyu+ girls
team after performing Anan with bunkai in the final.
They were glad to be able practise their bunkai
again and although they did not make the same
mistakes as the first time they performed it, they
did make new mistakes but it was still enough to win
3-0. They are so young and performing to a very high
standard for their age. This is the second time they
have done bunkai and they are enjoying every second
of it! Congratulations girls.
The other two teams
won a gold and silver with BETHANY SCOULDING, LOUISE
HICKS and KATIE PHARO taking gold 2-1 with Pinan
Shodan. TONI SHERING, EDWARD VAN MEERKERK and
MICHAEL HOLMES took silver after performing the
challenging team kata Kosokun Sho.
In the pairs kata SKA
entered several pairs who all lost in the early
rounds to older and stronger duos. After about 5
rounds RYAN BEAVINGTON and EDWARD VAN MEERKERK did
really well to earn a bronze medal and keep the club
up in the medals!
The day was over
early and some travelled back to Basingstoke whilst
others stayed in a local hotel ready for the next
day’s kumite events. It was nice that they stayed
over as they got to socialise with some Hanko-Ryu
Harlow kids and parents which is very important in
building a good healthy squad!!
Sunday came round
very quickly and the hall was much more crowded for
the kumite day. Once again the SKA only had
competitors in the under 13yrs group but still did
well to come away with 3 golds, 1 silver and 3
bronze. There were some top English kumite squads in
attendance including Links Karate Kai, WIKF (Oxford
Martial Arts), Kaizen, KMA and lots of other clubs
all with high standards.
MICHAEL HOLMES and
TONI SHERING once again dominated the 7yrs and under
groups where they both took gold. For such young
competitors they are very consistent and hard
working. LEWIS HOLMES at only 5yrs old, just missed
out on a medal in Michael’s group and GRAEME
RICHARDSON struggled to score as it was his first
time competing.
EDWARD VAN MEERKERK
fought extremely well in an open weight 8-10yrs
section. He won all 4 rounds in a tough group to
take gold so well done to him!
In the 11-13yrs SAM
BARTON won a bronze in the 4th kyu and
below section and considering it was his first
competition he fought well. RYAN BEAVINGTON had a
strong group but he did well to win one round and
just miss out on a medal in the 11-13yrs, 3rd
kyu+ group.
SIAN BARTON and KATIE
PHARO fought in the 8-10yrs girls where Katie won a
bronze after loosing to the eventual winner. In the
11-13yrs sections BETHANY SCOULDING won a bronze and
LOUISE HICKS took silver in the 4th kyu
and below section. In the 3rd kyu+
section CHLOE PHARO and ELLIE BARTON failed to medal
in a tough group.
Overall the day was
good with some very talented fighters showing their
skills to the younger, up-and-coming competitors.
Another early exit due to exceptional organisation
and efficiency!!
Overall the SKA won 8
golds, 5 silvers and 9 bronze medals which was
enough to top the overall medal table! With only 14
competitors, including 2 brand new to competing,
this was a remarkable achievement!
Coach Clare added,
"It was an enjoyable weekend and thanks goes to all
from the Hanko-Ryu clubs and coaches who cheered for
and looked out for each other. Well done to everyone
from all the clubs who competed and showed good
sportsmanship and etiquette. It was a great weekend
of competing and I am so proud that the SKA topped
the medal table. More importantly, they are all
working hard, having fun and improving. There were
some very talented karate-ka from various clubs so
well done to all and thanks to all the coaches who
supported our competition. To follow on from a very
efficiently run competition I thought I would do the
report as soon as possible! Lastly thanks to all the
parents for travelling once again, the photographers
and to the coaches Simon and Lisa for their hard
work. Special thanks to Tony who worked tirelessly
on the weekend and prior to this arranging the
entries. Once again, well done to all! Oosshhaaaaa!"
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