 Alex Sell – National Champion, Aimee Sell National Medallist.
Shuhari-Kai sent a small squad of four to compete in the first English National Championships hosted by the EKF, the newly formed governing body for Karate in England. The championships were
being held in Ponds Forge, Sheffield, over the weekend of 5-6th April 2008. Competing in the Girls 12-13yrs Kata event
on day one of the championships was Aimee Sell. Aimee performed Bassai-Dai Kata in her opening round winning 3 flags to 0 and won her next round 2-1 following her Annan Kata. Her semi-final saw her cruise to the final after winning 3 flag to 0 following her Unshu Kata
performance. The final proved very close as her Chatanyara Kushanku Kata lost out 2-1 to Ishinryu’s Rebecca Birch’s Kanko-Sho Kata. Aimee was pleased to medal securing her third national medal from three attempts.
Next up for the squad was Sophie Roberts competing in the Female Cadets Kata event. Sophie performed a good Bassai-Dai in her opening round but not quite good enough on the day as she
bowed out early losing 3 flags to 0.
Jodie Miles competing in the Girls 14-15yrs Kata event followed Sophie’s example by bowing out early with a 3 flags to 0 defeat following her Bassai-Dai Kata in the 2nd
round following her 1st round bye.
Last Kata competitor up for the squad was Alex Sell competing in the Male Cadets section. Alex won his opening two compulsory rounds 3 flags to 0 following his Bassai-Dai and
Seienchin Kata but lost out in round 3 following a 3-0 defeat for his Chatanyara Kushanku Kata. Alex did make repechage and won his 1st round 3-0 following his Unshu performance but just lost out on a medal in the repechage final as his Superimpei Kata was beaten 2
flags to 1.
Day two saw just Alex and Sophie in action. After a long wait for the team Kumite events to finish Sophie was the first to take to the mats competing in the Female Cadets Over 57kg category.
Sophie started her match well taking an early lead but somehow let her lead slip and although she gained a few more points just missed out on progression to the next round by a single point losing 4-3.
Alex competed in the Male Cadets U70kg category and started well winning his opening round fight 8-1. Round two saw him win 4-0 and he booked his place in the final by winning his semi-final
fight 9-1. Following the repechage rounds the final soon commenced but Alex continued his good form and went on the secure his national title winning the fight 8-2.
Following his success in the U70kg category, Alex went on to compete in the Male Cadet Open Weight Kumite category. Once Again Alex started well winning his opening round fight 6-0 but found the 2nd round a lot tougher. With the scores level 0-0 following extra time
the decision went down to the judges. All voted for Alex who progressed into the semi-finals. The semi-final proved to be just as hard as the previous round as the fight went into extra time with the scores tied at 0-0. This time Alex managed to score and take the win to make
the final. The final pitted Alex against his England team mate Saule Del-Rio from Ken Yu Kai. This was another close match but with less than 20 seconds remaining on the clock both boys went in for a punch with Saule coming out with the score. Alex tried to level the score but
Saule countered him to secure a 2-0 win leaving Alex to settle for silver and his second medal of these championships.
|