Karate stars up for the fight

STUART Eaton may very well be competing in the veteran category in the Oceania Karate Cup, but he is still a novice when it comes to representing his country.

Eaton, Suzie Jones, Sarah Marjoniemi, T’Meika Knapp and Finlay Rossiter-Hill will represent Australia in Auckland, New Zealand, from May 18-20. Eaton, Jones, Marjoniemi and Knapp will compete in the Oceania Karate Cup, while Knapp and Rossiter-Hill will compete in the Oceania Karate Championships.

The divisions of the championships are contested at world level, while the cup is principally for juniors and veterans.

Eaton, 41, will compete in the veteran 35-44 kumite and 35-44 kata in the cup.

It will be the first time he has represented Australia.

“It is pretty exciting for me,” Eaton said.

“I believe one of the gentlemen that’s in my division is a former world number three at the world championships and a two-time European champion.

“As well as representing Australia, I’m going to be competing against formerly one of the world’s best competitors.”

Eaton said it was rare to have so many Tasmanians competing.

“It’s probably one of the larger numbers we’ve had going to Oceania in recent times at least.

“It’s a pretty good effort for Tasmania,” he said.