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For further information email us at info@shuharikai.co.uk

or call Chief Instructor Richard Burridge on 01708 737125 or 07850 253998

Copyright (C) by Shuhari-Kai Karate Club 2003-2009

For further information email us at info@shuharikai.co.uk

or call Chief Instructor Richard Burridge on 01708 737125 or 07850 253998

Copyright (C) by Shuhari-Kai Karate Club 2003-2009

      

Heathrow London Youth Games 2003   A great result for Havering as no less than ten squad members will be competing at the Finals of the London Youth Games at Crystal Palace on 13th July 2003 by the Havering Karate Squad. The preliminary rounds which were held on Sunday 22nd June 2003, also at Crystal Palace, saw some great performances by the Havering squad in both the Kata and Kumite events.     Jodie Miles lost out to the finalist in the girls U14 Kata and then lost by a split decision in the final round of the reportage. This was a great achievement as this was her very first games and she is bound to command this event in future years. Having managed 5th place in Kata, she made no such mistake in the U35kg Kumite event fighting her way through to the finals. Jodie had a bruising encounter in her early rounds as she was continually punched in the face by her competitor who was finally disqualified after repeated warnings. Not only giving away 1ft in height, it was later discovered (after Havering Coach Richard Burridge asked for her to be weighed) that this competitor was 2.5kg overweight as well. She was then duly eliminated from the reportage rounds too.    Sam Clark, (Ishinryu), made the finals in both the girls 14+ Kata and her Kumite events making light work of her opposition. Sam is now our sole girls Kata representative but stands a very good chance of securing gold in both events.    ‘Shortest Event of the Day’ award goes to Sophie Roberts, who cruised into the finals of the girls U40kg Kumite without having to lift a finger. Fired up for action after 2 hours of warming up by running up and down stairs and all over Crystal Palace, she was greeted with the news that only four competitors had turned up for this event and by default all of them would be in the finals. (Sophie’s mum managed to get two seconds worth of video!). Still, it was a nice day out. ‘Irony of the Day’ was that the girl disqualified from the U35kg category for being too heavy could have entered this weight category instead and would probably have made the finals.   Lauren McCarthy competed in two Kumite weight events and narrowly missed out in her first one by losing 12 – 11 in what was to prove a thrilling match. She made amends in her second event by winning her way through to the finals and judging by her performance should go all the way.    The other girls didn’t have so much luck as they failed to make the finals. Picking up the ‘Dubious Decision of the Day’ award was Sammy Burridge, who was flabbergasted after her elimination following some apparent ‘dubious’ decisions in which she was constantly penalised for techniques adjudged to be excessive. Claire Paige was eliminated after also committing a number of fouls but she committed one-too-many as she received her marching orders after her disqualification.   Onto the boys, and first up was James Hartwell in the U14 Kata. Unfortunately, James was eliminated in one of the final rounds but made amends in the U45kg Kumite. After losing to one of the finalist during the rounds, James secured a finals place by wining the reportage.    Joining James in the finals will be Alex Sell who managed to pull off one of the greatest escape the Karate world has every seen! This is definitely candidate for ‘Lucky Son-of-a-Gun’ award. Getting a bye in his first round, Alex took an early lead in his second round fight by scoring two Ippons in quick succession. Alex let the lead slip to 2–2 before once again taking the lead to 3–2. However, he let the lead slip once more to 3–3 before letting a simple Mawashigeri score against him taking the score to 3–5. With the clock ticking down Alex attempted a Jodan Mawashigeri but his leg was caught and down he went banging his head on the mat. After a brief pause for the medic to check that he was OK to continue, the bout was resumed. Alex was two points down with two seconds on the clock remaining. At the resumption of the bout in an unbelievable move, Alex sprinted across the mat and launched a Jodan Mawashigeri which was executed to perfection as the buzzer for time went. The bout was over, Alex was awarded 3 points and awarded the bout 6–5 points, we all received mild heart attacks whilst Havering Coach Richard Burridge didn’t know whether to laugh or scream at him (so he did both). Alex went on to win his next two fight 8–2 and 8–1 respectively.     No such dramas for Mitchell Keil who impressed with his cool display of techniques in the U45kg Kumite event. Mitchell clearly in control cruised to the finals and must be clear favourite to win in July.     Also through to the finals in July is Chris Pugh and Chris Walling (I didn’t stay for these events so I’m not sure how it went but both Chris's are sharp and it’s certainly looking good for them).    Also through to the finals is Daniel Clark (Ishinryu) who competed in the 14+ Kata event. (Didn’t see this event so any updates would be appreciated).   JJ. Burridge was an early casualty in his Kumite event after being knocked out in the early stages and out too is Robert Clark (Ishinryu) who unfortunately lost in the final round of the reportage in the U40kg Kumite event. Robert fought gallantly and was genuinely upset about missing the finals but Robert has a bright future and was a credit to the Havering Squad.    Havering Coach, Richard Burridge, was pleased with the results and is looking forward to the finals next month in which he fully expects the Havering Karate Squad to bring the Karate trophy back to its spiritual home, Havering.

 

For further information email us at info@shuharikai.co.uk or call Chief Instructor Richard Burridge on 01708 737125 or 07850 253998   Copyright (C) by Shuhari-Kai Karate Club 2003-2009