Green Island top club at South Island champs
GREEN Island is officially the best club in the South Island and well on its way to producing its next ninja.
The Dunedin club collected the best club title at the Taekwondo Union of New Zealand South Island Championships in Invercargill on Saturday.
The event attracted about 130 competitors from clubs from throughout the South Island.
Green Island sent more than 20 of its members and they all returned with a medal of some kind. Collectively, they contributed to a wonderful meeting and the club was rewarded with the champion of champions trophy.
It was also an emotional time for the members. Green Island dedicated its performances to a young member who was killed in a motor vehicle accident earlier in the year.
The club did not want that to be the focus of the article, club manager Sue Keen said. But there was definitely a feeling of achievement and pride.
‘‘It was the best we’ve ever done,’’ Keen said.
Among the many winners, 10yearold Lizzie Park’s effort really stood out.
She joined the club in July and was competing at her first tournament. She won gold in both the individual and pair poomsae, gold in the Kyorugi and was named the best coloured belt fighter which is awarded to the best competitor beneath black belt level.
‘‘She has sisters that do ballet and all the girly stuff but decided one day that she wanted to come to Green Island Taekwondo and just give it a go. From that day on she decided she wanted to be a ninja.’’
Renee Perenara (16) is another competitor who shone. She claimed silver in the pair and team poomsae and has been identified at national level.
Brent Chilton (20) had to settle for bronze in the kyorugi but he is highly rated and was fighting some very good competitors.
Hanna Ingram (15) is another to watch. She claimed gold and silver in the pair and team poomsae respectively, and silver in the kyorugi.
The next important event for the club is the nationals in Wellington in September.
Green Island hopes to send a goodsized team, given its success at the South Island Championships.