Karateka from all over Europe descended on the seaside town of Chalkida, Greece, to compete at the European Shotokan Karate-Do Association (ESKA) Championships between 25-27 November. With competitors from 20 different countries, the tournament ran for three days and lived up to expectations with “top class” Karate performances in every category.
The Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) was strongly represented at the Championships with international teams from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All the Squads performed to a high level throughout this three day competition. KUGB England did extremely well coming home with 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 7 Bronze medals. KUGB Wales added to the medals with a Silver and Bronze.
In the Senior Male Team Kumite, KUGB England’s Jon McGorian, Ryan Tucker, Joe Rawcliffe, Greg Hegarty, Cameron Graham and Ethan Armstrong fought well all day and in the final their performances were outstanding against a strong Hungarian team to win Gold.
With the same spirit and martial attitude, in the Senior Ladies Team Kumite KUGB England’s Rhianne Rawcliffe, Rebecca Rawcliffe, Caroline McGrath and Victoria Ogunseitan were also on excellent form to reach the final to meet a very strong Polish team. In a closely fought contest their performances were outstanding final to win Gold.
Greg Hegarty and Ryan Tucker both fought strongly during the eliminations to reach the Semi-final in a very competitive Senior Men’s Individual Kumite. The draw resulted in Greg and Ryan having to face each other in the Semi- finals and it was Ryan who was the victor going on to take Silver after an exciting fight with Popov Vsevolod from Russia. In the Senior Ladies Individual Kumite, Caroline McGrath and Rhianne Rawcliffe both fought well during the day to reach the Semi-finals and take Joint Third.
Members of KUGB England and KUGB Wales Teams added further medals to the tally.
KUGB England’s Team of Stuart Amos, Jack Somers and Connor Wilson took 4th place in the Senior Men’s Team Kata with Gojushiho Sho.
In the Junior Men’s Team Kumite, the England Team of Ethan Armstrong, Robert Crowney, Ryan Spencer and Connor Wilson fought strong all day to come up against the very strong Russian Team in the final. In a closely fought contest they were narrowly beaten to take Silver. Ethan Armstrong also fought well in the Individuals taking Bronze in the Junior Male Individual Kumite.
KUGB Wales reached the final of the Junior Ladies Team Kata. Rachel Edwards, Meleri Pryse and Charlotte Parry took Silver with an impressive performance of Kata Sochin.
KUGB England’s Junior Ladies Team Kumite (Maya Burns, Katherine Cheshire, Emily Hughes and Beth Nicholson) fought well to take Bronze.
In the Cadet Men’s Team Kumite, England’s Team (Callum Wilson, Jamie Allan, Aidan McLean) took Silver as did the England Cadet Ladies Team Kumite (Niamh Duddridge, Katherine Cheshire, Libby Bayley, Thea Priest). Also on the rostrum in Joint Third place in the Cadet Ladies Team Kumite were KUGB Wales (Yeisha Davies, Lauren Livingstone, Harriet Roper).
KUGB England’s Abdul Saif took Bronze in the Youth Men’s Individual Kumite. A special mention goes to Matthew Gibson who took 4th place in Youth Men’s Individual Kata. Matthew received an injury in the Kumite and he was unable to compete in the final of the Kata.
The KUGB would like to thank all the families and supporters who travelled to the ESKA Championships in Greece for their support.
An outstanding performance from everyone involved – congratulations to you all.
Senior Ladies Team Kumite
England – McGrath, Ogunseitan, Rawcliffe, Rawcliffe
Senior Men’s Team Kumite
England – Armstrong, Graham, Hegarty, McGorian, Rawcliffe, Tucker
Senior Men’s Individual Kumite
Ryan Tucker – England
Junior Men’s Team Kumite
England – Armstrong, Crowney, Spencer, Wilson
Junior Ladies Team Kata
Wales – Edwards, Parry, Pryse
Cadet Ladies Team Kumite
England – Bayley, Cheshire, Duddridge, Priest
Cadet Men’s Team Kumite
Allan, McLean, Wilson
Senior Ladies Individual Kumite
England – Rhianne Rawcliffe
England – Caroline McGrath
Senior Men’s Individual Kumite
Greg Hegarty – England
Senior Men’s Team Kata
England – Amos, Somers, Wilson
Junior Men’s Individual Kumite
Ethan Armstrong – England
Junior Ladies Team Kumite
England – Burns, Cheshire, Hughes, Nicholson
Cadet Ladies Team Kumite
Wales – Davies, Livingstone, Roper
Youth Men’s Individual Kata
Matthew Gibson – England
Youth Men’s Individual Kumite
Abdul Saif – England
