Club outstanding at national event (From Barry And District News)

Club outstanding at national event

FOR All karate clubs and associations who are members of the Sport Council recognised National Governing Body, the highlight of the domestic calendar is the WKGB Welsh Championships which took place at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff, last Saturday.

Barry Leisure Centre-based Vale Karate's results so far in 2004 have been outstanding, but these championships to find the official Welsh Karate champions was always bound to be number one on the agenda.

The day got off to a great start as 11-year-old Nick Hooper won his seventh official Welsh title. And there is the possibility of two further Welsh titles at the inaugural under-12s Championships in August, and the Welsh Open in September before he begins his under-16s campaign.

The Vale Junior squad of Rhys Davies, Scott Paramore and Elliot Evans are on a rollercoaster of success and they dominated the under-12 boys Kumite, and from 60 competitors all three reached the last four.

Scott beat Elliot in the semi but lost to Rhys in an extension after a full-time draw.

The boys then won the team event although they did not have it all their own way in the final since the opposition was the Vale B team of Nick, Berren Rees and Daniel Abruzzese.

Natasha Paton's chances of adding the Welsh title to the under-12 British title she holds, looked remote, competing in the girls under-16, but she showed her attributes to win the championship against all the odds.

Natasha, Alice Hooper and Nicole Tresidder also won the girls under-16 team event.

Tasha came within a whisker of an incredible treble as she was beaten into second place in the under-16 mixed kata.

In the seniors, coach Bo Channon was unable to defend his Welsh title because of injury, but the Vale's strength in depth was demonstrated when they still earned another 1-2-3!

Vale Senior Instructor Andrew Kanias won a close final over team-mate Alan Morgans with Nathan Bridges third.

The final gold medal came in the Senior male team event when the Vale A team of Billy Seagrim, Gareth Reynolds and Chief Instructor Rob Copeland beat the mighty WKA in the final.