Scottish Open Success

The Wales Karate Squad travelled to Largs, Scotland for the SKA Scottish Open on 30th June 2024. It was great to see the whole squad complete the journey this year following some vehicle issues last year meaning a number of the squad failed to get there.

The Squad was bolstered this time with members of Arashi Karate Kai Wales and Karate Tōushi along with a number of novices from Akai Ryuu and Gladiator Karate Academy who were competing at their first competition under the Wales Karate Squad Banner.

The day commenced with some excellent results in Kata with the senior Kata team of Callum, Luke and Tia picking up the first medal of the day with a silver in team kata. Many more medals followed in Kata with Nathan, Jac, Mackenzie, Wyatt all picking up Gold in their respective categories. Sensei Callum picked up Silver in Senior Mens Kata, with Richie Lodge picking up a silver in the novice category whilst Ivy picked up a Bronze medal in her category.

Following a short lunch break the focus turned to Kumite with Arlo first up to the podium picking up Bronze this was quickly followed by our men's novice fighters who had a clean sweep of the podium, Aaron (Gold), Leigh (Silver), Richie Lodge & Mackenzie (Bronze). We were equally successful in the junior girls individual fighting with Ivy, Orla and Elodie all medalling.

Sensei Callum added another silver to his collection on the day with a 2nd place finish in the mens ippon fighting, whilst Mackenzie and Beau picked up Gold and Silver respectively in the under 70kg Sanbon kumite.

Noah picked up Gold in Ippon and soon added silver in Sanbon whilst Arlo picked up Bronze in the Ippon fighting along with Thomas who picked up the silver. Sensei Callum added gold to his earlier collection of medals as he won the mens 70+kg Sanbon category - this is the third time running sensei Callum has won this category at this event!!

Sensei Tia was quick off the mark in her ippon fighting again claiming gold in the quickfire fashion we have become accustomed too, following which Willow picked up a gold Medal in the girls ippon. Alex Curley (Gold) and Louise Lewis (Silver) both medalled in the veterans Ippon categories as did Blake which picked up Silver in the boys fighting despite a bloody nose.

More Medals were won in team fighting from both seniors and junior teams to almost bring an end to an excellent day.....except two of our keenest competitors both with the largest groups still had to fight. Jac Tucker showed his class once again winning Gold in Ippon and a silver in Sanbon fighting whilst Izzy Fairbrother won double gold in both Ippon and Sanbon.

In total the medal tally stands at:

Gold x 18

Silver x 14

Bronze x 10

As outlined at the start this was an excellent performance by the squad especially given that it ws the first competition for a number of our athletes. Focus now turns to two world championship in September, firstly in Sheffield followed by Crawley.