Dundalk Karate Club host their awards night
CLUB ON GO THREE YEARS AND ATTRACTS ALL AGES
ON Friday night, I headed for Oriel Park where the Dundalk Karate Club were hosting their awards night. The club, which has been on the go for 3 years now were presenting the awards for the best pupils of the year.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with club chairperson Mary Marcus from Bay Estate who was there with husband Linley and daughter Catherine who is also a 1st Dan Black Belt and told me it had been a great year and everyone is welcome to come along to the Redeemer Family Resource Centre on Monday or Thursday nights to train with them. Their youngest is 4 year old and the eldest is 60 and everyone is more than welcome to come on down.
I then decided to have a look round and met up with Franek Chmielecki from Avenue Road who was there with his mum Kasia along with his aunt and uncle Monika and Chris Kantorska from Brookwood Lawns who were up for making the best of the night and were delighted when Franek won Junior Student of the Year.
Not too far away I then got a word with Jennifer Litchfield from Headford with her mum Ann McCann from Beechmount Drive and her son Dean whom later on in the night won the prestigious Sensei Stephen award for 2016.
Making my way over to another table I then met up with Julius Idowu from Farndreg who was with his wife Yinka and kids Josephine, Jessica and Joyce whom I was told are all in the club and loving it.
Next I met up with Caz Maher from Castlebellingham who was with husband Fintan and kids Oren and Ryley, Caz told me that Ryley has been with the club for two years now and really loves it and later was chosen as the Most Improved Junior in the club.
Not too long later I then got a word with Carol Phillips from Ath Lethan who was with husband Chris and son Tom who is in the club and they were enjoying the company of Danai Tsigkari from Nicholas Street who told me both Christes and Dimitris Kostepoules both train with the club and were up for making the best of the awards ceremony on the night.
After this I headed over for a word with Brian and Claire Igoe from Lis Na Dara how were with kids Ronan and Katie and Katie had just won the Best Kiai award so that was cause for celebrations for the family.
Next I got a word with Catherine Marcus from Bay Estate who had just won Student of the Year and she was having a laugh with her friend Eleanor Curran from Ard Easmuinn who told me she was there for moral support, didn’t practise karate and had won a medal last year!
Finally, I up with Conor and Liam Hoey from Castleross and their mum Maria who told me that Liam had won an award, as had she, and he was with the club and had managed to talk her into joining it and she was having a fantastic time now.