On Saturday the 4th April 2009 SEKU held their National Championships at the newly vamped Mountbattern Centre in Portsmouth. The Championships are always well attended by high standard karateka from SEKU and this year was no different. That said there were one or two noticable changes made and the new trophies that had been provided by sponsors Viviers, Taskmaster UK and Silver Fox Graphic Designs, added to the drive of the competitors.
As usual the day started with the popular junior individual and team kata events and no sooner had the events started did the success start rolling in. It was a clean sweep in the Pee Wee Individual Kata with a Gold for the young star Brian Garcia, a Silver for Carmen Fitzgerald and a Bronze for her brother Suma Fitzgerald, The Fitzgerald family already looking like the guys not to mess with.
The Pee Wee success continued with Pee Wee 3 Step Kumite in which Brian and Carmen once again found themselves in the final with each other, only this time it was Carmens turn for the Gold, Gold - Carmen Fitzgerald - Silver - Brian Garcia, these two have obviously been pushing themselves hard in training through out the year, well done guys.
The Juniors from the karate club worked well on their team kata and achieved a respectable Bronze in the finals as well as trophies from James Parkin in the Junior Individual Kata 10th to 4th Kyu - Bronze and Junior 5ft & Over 3 Step Kumite - Silver. These truely were excellent results as this was James first ever SEKU National Championships.
More of a seasoned regular Joe Crowe represented the club to a high standard with a bronze in the Boys Kumite 5ft & Over and a Silver in the Junior Individual Kata 3rd Kyu & Above.
With such success from the Junior members of the club the pressure was really on for the adults but it seemed they simply rised to the challange and it was initiated with the Adult Team Kata. Emma Williams, Rob Maynard and Joe Crowe performed an excellent jion to earn them the Gold and to start the ball rolling for the adults trophy talley.
James Davey and Andrew Melmoth who also found themselves at not only their first ever SEKU Nationals but their first ever Karate competition both showed their determination and attitude and this was rewarded with Silver - James Davey - Bronze - Andrew Melmoth in the Men's & Women's Kata 10th to 4th Kyu Kata.
Chris Farndell should also be mentioned for his all round karate ability as he was a finalist in both kata and kumite in the Men's brown belt categories which saw him pick up two silver places.
From beginer to blackbelt, junior to senior, there were many impressive results and at the black belt and senior end of the spectrum Emma Williams and Steph Cass achieved Bronze in th Women's Kata 3rd Kyu and above and Keith Williams in the extreamly high standard Mens Black Belt Kata achieved an impressive Bronze.
For Senpai Keith Williams and Junior Instructor Steph Cass it was an impressive day as they showed they too had allround ability and added a bronze to their medals in the Men's Black belt Kumite & Women's Black belt Kumite. Portsmouths Graham Rowley also achieved a well fought bronze in the Men's Black belt Kumite.
The winners of Mens and Womens Kumite went to the Galloways, Dave Galloway picking up Gold in the men's and his sister Karyn picking up the Gold in the women's. Having both competed for several years at the SEKU's and both won on previous occations but never within the same competition, it was an emotional day for the Galloways and one they will never forget.
The last event of the day was the team kumite and with some imrpessive opposition the Men's team achieved a bronze whilst the womens team kept up their excellent form and brough home yet another trophy but this time a Gold.
A big well done to all that competed, spectatored, coached, refereed and helped out for the day, a great effort from the Honbu Dojo.
Oss
