National success for local fighters
ASMALL squad from the Southport-based West Lancs Karate Academy recently travelled to Oldham to compete at the BSK National Open Championships, returning with one gold, three silver and four bronze medal placings.
The achievement is all the more impressive as it is the club’s first tournament outing in two years and the majority of the squad were competing for the first time, all putting in outstanding performances in a large event that drew competitors from all over the UK.
Of those making their tournament debut Toni Fell took silver in the girls Kata (forms), while Alex Bibby took silver in the junior men’s Kumite (fighting) and Bev Probert took bronze in the ladies kumite.
Harry Winrow put in an excellent performance, winning three medals on his debut, taking bronze in the junior men’s Kumite and another bronze in the junior men’s Kata.
Winrow then joined Luke Holt and Matt Schofield in the West Lancs Senior men’s team who took silver in the flagship Team Kumite event.
Schofield also competed in the senior men’s individual Kumite, fighting against some very tough competition to add another bronze to his and the club’s haul of medals.
In the junior categories, Bryan Boocock fought excep- tionally well, not losing a fight and taking gold in the children’s Kumite.
Thomas Lee won his first fight with a solid performance, while Joe Astles, Jack Craven, Marcus Fell and Ben Boocock also put in good performances, taking points of more experienced opponents but unfortunately not progressing to the finals.
Similarly Shikha Nishith and Issy Horobin scored well to progress through the first round of the pairs Kata, before narrowly missing out on reaching the finals.
The club plans to continue developing their squad for future events, although the main priority at the dojo remains traditional Budo karate.
Shotokan Karate has proved enduringly popular as a training system for discipline, focus, fitness and self defence, with the club having members aged from six to over sixty and always welcoming beginners and advanced exponents wanting to progress their art further.
For more information regarding Karate or the club go to www.westlancskarate.org.uk