York Karate muscled in on a flurry of success at the KUGB Northern Region Championships, the largest regional karate competition in Britain.
The club produced some fantastic performances at Sunderland, dominating some of the events such as the boys’ 10 to 11 years kumite with all the medals going to York.
The other outstanding performance was in the senior male team kumite. It has been seven years since York featured in the final of this event and drawing the very strong Leeds Karate Acadamy first team in the opening round poised a tough task.
The York team of Liam O’Grady, Ryan Stead, who has just turned 16, and Rob Thornham, who has only been back training three months after five years out were up against opponents who had all reached the finals of the senior men’s kumite.
O’Grady opened with a dominating win before Stead picked off Joe Hart with very fast punches. Though Thornham lost, York advanced to face a tough Ronin team in the semi-finals.
However, York excelled for a 3-0 success to put them into the final against the all-England international Halewood outfit.
O’Grady finished tied with Jon McGorian, while Thornham lost to Joe Rawcliffe whose quick head-kick proved decisive. Stead then lost a tough clash against a current cadet-class world champion forean overall 2-0 team defeat.
Elsewhere, York Karate’s 12-year-old Alice Atkinson returned to her best to dominate the 12-15 years’ over 5ft 3in tall event, while Jake Atkinson excelled in the boys’ 10-11 years kumite and Emily Drysdale won the girls’ 10-11 kumite.
Results: Jake Atkinson 1st boys’ 10-11 kumite; Alice Atkinson 1st girls’ 12-15 kumite (over 5ft 3in); Emily Drysdale 1st girls’ 10-11 kumite; Liam O’Grady, Ryan Stead, Rob Thornham, Gary Fentiman, Alick Doyle 2nd senior male team kumite; Matty Bielby 2nd boys 10-11 kumite; Rob Thornham 2nd male senior kumite (kyu grades); Gary Fentiman 3rd male senior kumite (kyu grades); Cayleigh McCartney 3rd girls’ 10-11 kumite; Joseph Lines 3rd boys’ 10-11 kumite; Edward Stark 3rd boys’ 10-11 kumite.
For more information on York Karate go to club’s website: www.yorkkarate.org
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