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England Karate-Do Ryobu-kai Open International Championships     What can we say! The Squad of four set off to Worthing at 6.30a.m arriving nice and early and being able to go into the dojo and wait patiently for everyone to arrive.   The competition started with team kata, we didn’t enter this event unfortunately as bunkai was supposed to be performed by the winners but this was not done.   First up for our squad was Jordan Hodges or is it Gordon! Getting a first round bye he then went on to perform pinan shodan winning 2 flags to 1, which took Jordan straight into the final, and not to disappoint he performed pinan sandan and took the same 2 flags as before, well done Jordan the 1st gold of the day.   And now for the girls with all three girls being put together when they should have been in three different categories’ we wondered what the outcome would be.   Jade up first with Sophie and Jodie receiving first round bye’s. Jade performed Seienchin kata and took all 3 flags from the judges. Jade was then called up against Jodie, Jade performed a very good Jion, but was unable to score this time against Jodie’s ni-pi-po kata, up gets Jade again for 3rd place and decides to perform Seienchin kata again taking all 3 flags again and the bronze medal. Sophie up next and performed Seienchin scoring all three flags from the judges this left Sophie and Jodie in the final. Both girls decided to perform Bassai-dai with Jodie taking the 3 judges flags this time and giving her, her first gold of the day. Great end to the kata event with 2 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze.   Yet again the girls were put together for kumite and up against other girls a lot bigger and stronger. It was Sophie’s turn to go first as Jodie and Jade received a bye in the first round. Sophie dominated the fight winning 9-1. Next up was Jodie, up against a girl a lot bigger and older than she was. Jodie just lost out after the other girl scored a kick in the last few seconds, taking the score to 7-5. Up next was Jade, and Sophie, with the two girls not wanting to fight each other, it was a very gentle well fought round with Sophie coming out on top 6-3, putting Sophie into the final. Jade then had to fight off for third place. Up against a girl from the home club and like Jodie’s previous match before the girl was a lot bigger and older than Jade, but after being hurt Jade stepped up her techniques and came through winning 5-4 with a lovely sanbon kick. Sophie’s turn again and the final after a few good punches Sophie came out on top winning the match 2-0, and the gold medal.   Jordan finally gets called up, and takes to the mat after a ¾ of an hour wait. After receiving a bye for the first round he then takes to the mat, up against a boy from the home club who was a lot bigger and receiving a very low kick Jordan manages to win the fight 6-0. Up again and against another bigger competitor he takes the win again 4-1, giving Jordan (flash) his second gold of the day.   Just about to leave and Sensei Robert Costelloe asks the girls if they would stay and take part in the girls, 18 years and below advanced to expert kata event, as they had watched them earlier and enjoyed their katas. So the girls agreed to do it, and got changed again.   Straight into the event, Jade was up first and performed Seienchin kata and took all 3 flags. Sophie up next, but received a bye, now Jodie’s turn, Jodie performed Seipai and again took all 3 flags, this meant Jade and Sophie were up against each other Jade performed Jion and Sophie performed Seienchin and took the 3 flags. This now meant Sophie and Jodie were up against each other, Sophie decided to have a go and perform Unshu, Jodie performed Bassai-dai and again took all 3 flags taking her into the finals, and up against a girl who previously won the 17 to 18 years kata category. Jodie was up first and decided to perform Ni-pi-po, and again took all 3 flags and the gold medal.   Well done to all the squad with the outcome of: 5 golds, 1 silver, and 4 bronzes.   Squad: Jordan Hodges, Jade Lewis, Jodie Miles and Sophie Roberts.   Report by Pat Miles.