St George’s wipe out Calabar in taekwondo league

FAVOURITES ST George’s College came roaring back at rivals recently, wiping out many-time former champions Calabar 4-1 at the Shai-Tai Karate Open at Campion College to take a 3-1 lead in the McKay Security Jamaica Taekwondo Schoolboy League.

Rebounding from their shock loss, 2-3 to Jamaica College (JC) at March’s Everlast Jamaica Taekwondo Association Open at the National Arena, St George’s College welcomed back experienced Duncan Smith as they outclassed Penwood 3-1 in semi-final action, setting up a clash with Calabar, who brought JC back to Earth after their March heroics.

JC were always trailing Calabar, going down in the opening bout before Sharic Bowen earned them a draw, but it wasn’t enough to inspire his teammates, who bowed out 1-3 in their semi-final.

Though one of St George’s most experienced fighters, Miguel Hamilton, lost his bout, hobbled by an injury, Smith and Ryan Robinson led the Light Blues to their third victory in the league, setting up what JC coach Ackeem Lawrence said could be a Calabar-like trophy run until their top stars graduate.

“The other schools have really good instructors teaching them. Those guys will be good, eventually, probably even better than the ones we are seeing now,” he said.“But, for now, St George’s is the team.”

“My guys did not execute as expected. They are still getting used to sparring,” Lawrence pointed out. “They are new in the realm of martial arts. Calabar had that extra which was needed to win. We were always trailing,” he said, looking to May’s Shotokan Karate Open, the fifth in the series of open tournaments, which mirrors the academic year.