MEOPHAM OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS   Seven Shuhari-Kai students travelled to Kent for the 2nd Meopham Open on Sunday 10th July 2005. The Kata events were first and in the mixed under 16 years 6th to 4th Kyu category we had 4 students. Billie Lowry was called up first who performed Pinan Nidan and scored a well-deserved 21.1. Up next was Gemma Smith in her first ever competition and whom also performed Pinan Nidan. Gemma scored  a creditable 20.6. which was a great effort. Next was Jordan Hodges. He decided to perform Pinan Shodan and scored 21.4 which put him in joint 3rd place with 3 other competitors. This left Ali Ayerman, as the last of the foursome, to compete.  Ali also chose to perform Pinan Shodan like Jordan before him and scored 20.4. After all the other competitors had completed their Katas, Jordan had to perform another Kata as he was tied 3rd place and this time he chose Pinan Sandan. Jordan scored 21.3.  Unfortunately not enough for the bronze medal just missing out this time.   Next up was Jade Lewis and Sophie Roberts in the Mixed Under 16 years 3rd to 1st Kyu category. Jade went first, and performed Seienchin, scoring 21.2. Sophie was next and decided to have a go at Unshu, and scored an impressive 21.4. This was enough to take Sophie through to the next round where the top four face each other in a semi-final showdown with flags. Sophie performed Seipai against her opponent but was unlucky and lost 2 flags to 1 and had to settle for a bronze medal.   Our last competitor for Kata was Jodie Miles who was in the Mixed Under 16 years Dan Grade category. Jodie performed Bassai-Da, and scored 21.6. This was enough to take her through to the next round knockout stage. Jodie performed Seipai against her opponent but lost 3 flags to 0 and like Sophie earlier had to settle for a bronze medal on this occasion.   The Team Kata event was next with Jade, Jodie and Sophie competing together. There were eight teams in this section and with Shuhari-Kai going fourth they performed Seienchin Kata and scored 21.6 which took them into joint first place. After all the teams had finished it was time to find out the eventual winners.  The girls were facing a single flag round for the gold medal against their opponents who finished on equal points. Shuhari-Kai decided to perform the same Kata as before and so did their opponents. Shuhari-Kai out performed their opponents this time winning with 2 flags to 1 and taking the first gold of the day.   Well done 1 gold and 2 bronzes for Kata.   Kumite section was next and first up was Ali Ayerman. Ali won his first fight, with an impressive 7 – 1 score. His second fight was a lot tougher but he did manage to score, and at the end it was 1 – 0 to Ali. His next fight was against a boy half his size, which made it hard for Ali to sink any techniques, and unfortunately lost 4 – 1 but he did gain a bronze medal for all his efforts.   Next up was Jordan Hodges. Jordan won his first fight 4 – 1 but he was then up against a boy a lot bigger and lost his fight 5 – 2. A good effort from Jordan who did his best.   Now for the girls to strut there stuff.  Billie Lowry was first of the girls to compete. After being moved to a different category as there was nobody to fight in her correct category she had two other competitors and so a round robin match ensued. Billie made no mistakes in her first fight and won 10 – 5 but couldn’t quite sink in the punches in her second fight and lost 10 – 6, but still gained a silver medal. Well done you little tiger.   Gemma Smith was called next, but with nobody else in her category she walked off with the gold medal, not bad for her first competition.   Jade Lewis and Jodie Miles were next and in the same category. Jade had a hard fight and after injuring her hand and stepping out of the area once to often she lost 8 – 7, but she gave it everything she had. Well done Jade. Jodie received a bye in the first round which doesn’t happen very often, then her next fight was a bit scrappy but Jodie came out on top with a 10 – 2 win. With Jodie now in the final but with an injured hip her coach told her to take it easy and control her punches. After taking a few knocks and punches to the face, Jodie managed to score and won the match 3 – 0 and gained the gold medal.   Sophie Roberts was the last of the squad to compete and Sophie breezed through her first fight to take an 8 – 0 win. With Sophie on a roll she done exactly the same in her second fight with another 8 – 0 win. Now in the semi-final, Sophie had a harder fight and after taking a few punches to her eye and nose, Sophie lost 14 – 10 on this occasion but did manage to pick up the bronze medal.   And so with 3 Golds, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronzes Shuhari-Kai had another excellent result. Well done to everyone.   Squad:  Ali Ayerman, Jordan Hodges, Jade Lewis, Billie Lowry, Jodie Miles, Sophie Roberts and Gemma Smith.