19th British International Karate Open Great Success

Considered by all serious English Karate competitors to be the one event on the British calendar not to be missed, so after a years absence this year `IT WAS BACK`. And `wow` was it back in style!!!

Squads were there from the UK of course (including some very disenchanted EKF members), plus squads from Romania, Albania, Belgium, Turkmenistan, Italy, Poland, Ireland, Slovakia, Sweden, Holland and others.

Congratulations to Abdu Shaher and the KarateSport England group for putting this event together and holding it at such a prestigious venue as K2 Crawley near Gatwick. There is a huge amount of work to be done in holding such an event and its reappearance on the Karate circuit after a one year absence was a breath of fresh air.

We were privileged to have Mr Liviu Crisan the WUKF General Secretary attend with the Romanian Squad and also Mr Michel Lelievre from Belgium who is the WUKF President of Central & Western Europe.

KATA

The Kata events always seem so much more sensible using WUKF rules where styles are separated from each other, this system can only encourage more people to try Kata as opposed to having everyone in together. There was also an open event for style’s not catered for.

Shikon took gold in the two Shito-ryu children’s events with Hollie Roberts not only winning her style event but also taking first in the Open section and Oliver Briggs taking the boys in a close decision over squad team mate Sam Hulbert.

In the children’s Shotokan sections I Pauly and A Vaccarella (Belgium) won the girls and boys respectively with excellent performances.

In the senior events the Men’s was won by Dan Read from Dudley (FEKO) with a strong performance of Shukokai kata and the Ladies by Eva Kerekes (World Wado Kata Champion) from Romania.

CHILDRENS KUMITE UNDER 15 YRS

Shikon, Dudley KC and the Belgium squad wrapped up most of the children’s categories between them despite strong opposition from Turkmenistan and Polish competitors. Special well done to I Pauly (Calaminia) who took her second Gold of the day in the Female O45k 13-14 yrs.

CADET KUMITE 15-17YRS

Here the Belgium squad dominated winning both the male categories. In the female cadet Raluca Vanea from Romania beat England s current European Champion Shauna Carroll in enchosen in an exciting final.

SENIOR KUMITE

Dan Read from Dudley took his second Gold of the day winning the Male U21 s open event. The Romanians and Albanians fared well taking several medals. Javier Ortigosa from Royal Holloway did well to win the Men’s U78k and Shikons Ami Carrigan-Smith showed her usual good timing to take the Female O60k. Old hand Jacek Lipinski from School of Masters won the Male Veterans to add to his numerous other titles and Belgiums Natalie Konnings took the female veterans.

TEAMS

Shikon showed its strength in depth winning all male and female children’s team events they also won the female cadet sanbon team and team rotation events beating Romania in the final. In the Male cadet the Belgium boys showed their experience and won both the team events beating English teams in both finals.

The Senior events saw a strong Romanian team win both the female sanbon and rotation events despite stiff opposition from the FEKO ladies and in the men’s FIK from Italy beat Ulster in the sanbon .In the team rotation Shikon (current English team rotation champions) beat SKU in an exciting finale to the days events.

Many thanks again to Abdu for all the hard work and of course to WUKF and Karate England members for supporting the event and many will be attending the Irish International Karate Open scheduled for 06 March 2010 in Dublin.

Thanks to the refereeing teams from FEKO and Shikon for making the day run smoothly and of course to all International referees who attended from the continent. Roll on next year!!