The LKA had a very impressive day winning a wide range of medals at the KUGB National Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. We took a total of 13 different medal positions spread over Childrens, Juniors and Adults events. A superb showing, of which everyone within the LKA can be proud.
Emelye O’Brien won our only Gold of the day with a clear cut victory in the 10 & 11 Year Old Girls Kumite event. In what was her first event in the KUGB, she took the title with with two fast Gyaku Tsuki.
Ashley Scott was our most successful competitor of the day, taking medals in all four events she entered. She was beaten narrowly to the Female Kumite title by England Team-mate Zoe Campbell and followed this up with Third Place in the Female Kata event too. She was also part of the LKA Team kata which took Silver medal position behind Manchester University, coached by our regular Grading Examiner, Sensei Garry Harford. With both teams performing Unsu, the Manchester Team (who have all individually been National Kata Champions) pipped us the the title. Finally, in a repeat of last years Female Team Kumite Final, we were again narrowly beaten 2-1 by Halewood. However, despite the disappointment of not collecting Gold, Ashley should be very proud of her all-round performance.
David Wright took a very creditable Silver in the Senior Male Kata event where he was beaten by this Years KUGB Grand Champion, John James Bruce of Sendia Kushiro.
Holly Dickinson and Jordon Probst also both took Silver medals in their respective Kumite events and whilst both fought very well, they were both beaten by physically bigger opponents.
Although we only won the one event, it is fair to say that the general standard of the LKA Competitors over all events was excellent. As we had medallists in Boys and Girls events, Junior Men and Junior Womens events and Senior Men and Senior Womens events, it certainly says a lot about the LKA’s strength in depth and we can be confident that we are heading in the right direction.
Matt Price and Tom Little put on a very entertaining Demonstration for the crowd during the evenings finals.
The full list of our results was:
|
Grils Kumite 10 & 11 Years |
1st |
Emelye O’Brien |
|
Senior Male Kata |
2nd |
David Wright |
|
Senior Female Kumite |
2nd |
Ashley Scott |
|
Adult Team Kata |
2nd |
Ashley Scott, David Wright and Nick Smith |
|
Female Team Kumite |
2nd |
Ashley Scott, Natasha Balyckyi, Mel Finlay and Zoe Starr |
|
Junior Male Kumite 16 & 17 Years |
2nd |
Jordon Porbst |
|
Girls Kumite Over 5’3’’ |
2nd |
Holly Dickinson |
|
Senior Female Kata |
3rd |
Ashley Scott |
|
Junior Female Kumite |
3rd |
Mel Finlay |
|
Junior Male Kumite 18-20 Years |
3rd |
Ryan Tucker |
|
Boys Kumite 5’-5’5’’ |
3rd |
Hayden Steele |
|
Boys Kumite Under 5’ |
3rd |
Oliver Deane |
|
Childrens Kata Novice-4th Kyu |
3rd |
Kieran Tucker |
The full list of our 39 Competitors was:
Ashley Scott, Daryn Hobden, Zoe Starr, David Wright, Nick Smith, Natasha Balyckyi, Jordon Probst, Ryan Tucker, Mel Finlay, Brian Lister, Joe Hart, Stephen Brown, James Brown, Holly Dickinson, Sam Goulden, Tom Little, Josie Fishkin, Oliver Deane, Dan Martin, Ronan Cain, Abi Chapman, Hayden Steele,Tom Mitchell, Jed Dickinson, Andrew Cryer, Andy Deane, Pat Cryer, Kate Lister, Jamie Horwell, Callam Payne, Emelye O’Brien, Adam Banks, Sam Mitchell, Connor Payne, James Williams, David Lister, Jude O’Brien, Joe Bulmer and Kieran Tucker