The Karate Union of Great Britain’s (KUGB) Grand Slam is a key event in all Squad Members’ calendars. It is the first major competition of the year and gives the National Coaches an opportunity to assess their Squads with a view to selection for the European Shotokan Karate-Do Association (ESKA) Championships in Nis, Serbia in November.
The first Grand Slam of the year took place on Saturday, 24th February at the Queens Park Sports Centre, Chesterfield with International Squads from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing. There are no medals to be won, no trophies to hold aloft – just the pride of representing your Country.
As with every Grand Slam, the Squads came together a couple of hours prior to the Competition to undergo a Training Session with their respective Coaches. At the same time, the Referees and Judges arrived for a briefing meeting. A competition of this calibre can make or break a Karateka’s chance of selection and requires Officials of the highest level. Along with KUGB National Referees and Judges, there were also a large number of International Referees and Judges present along with our team of Timekeepers and Recorders.
In a competition of this calibre you can see National, European and World Champions competing side by side with those fairly new to the squad. Throughout the eliminations and finals competition was fierce and there were some outstanding performances during the day.
Sensei Andy Sherry, Chairman and Chief Instructor of the KUGB, was extremely pleased with the strong attitude and spirit of all of the competitors. He was particularly pleased with the ability and determination shown from the young Karateka coming through the ranks promising a very strong future for the KUGB.
Our thanks go to Dudley Wheatcroft and the members of Satori Shotokan Karate Club, the Manager and Staff at the Queen’s Park Leisure Centre, our Referees and Judges, table staff and our team of Medics.
Senior Male Team Kumite
1. England
2. Wales
Senior Female Team Kumite
1. England
2. Scotland
Junior Male Team Kumite
1. England
2. Wales
Cadet Female Team Kumite
1. England
2. Wales
Cadet Male Team Kumite
1. England
2. Wales
Male Senior Individual Kumite
1. Jonathan McGorian – England
2. Ryan Tucker – England
3. Cameron Graham – England
3. Stuart Amos – England
Female Senior Individual Kumite
1. Rhianne Rawcliffe – England
2. Rebecca Rawcliffe – England
3. Caroline McGrath – England
3. Emma Lloyd – England
Senior Male Kata (18 & over)
1. Jack Somers – England
2. Stuart Amos – England
3. Marcus Ingham – England
4. Connor Wilson – England
Female Individual Kata
1. Thea Priest – England
2. Rachel Edwards – Wales
3. Jess Palmer – Wales
4. Penny Sinclair – Wales
Male Kata (Under 18)
1. Matthew Gibson – England
2. James Eva – England
3. Lewis Robinson-Burns – England
4. Sam Holbrook – England
Junior Male Kumite (18-20)
1. Ethan Armstrong – England
2. Aidan McLean – England
3. Kyle Watkin – Wales
3. Jamie Allan – England
Junior Female Kumite (16-20)
1. Katherine Cheshire – England
2. Thea Priest – England
3. Niamh Duddridge – England
3. Libby Bayley – England
Junior Male Kumite (16-17)
1. Luciano Zanuni – England
2. Jade Stapleton-Smith – England
3. Samuel Holbrook – England
3. Callum Wilson – England
Cadet Male Kumite (13-15)
1. Patrick O’Neil – England
2. Bradley Barker – England
3. Dylan McCloskey – Northern Ireland
3. Henry Winterman – England
Cadet Female Kumite (13-15)
1. Miranda Ngonji – England
2. Mia Hillsden – England
3. Molly Scully – England
3. Rebecca Adie – England
