European JKA Karate Championships
for Children and Cadets, Belgrade, Serbia 23rd & 24th May 2009
We arrived in the beautiful city of Belgrade, Serbia on Thursday 21st May 2009 in preparation for the Championships.
We had high hopes of following the success of Adam Moulding who took 4th place in the 16-20 years Male Individual Kata category; Tresor Mashaka who took 1st place in the 18-20 years Male Individual Kumite category and Jenny Harries, Jodie Pidcock and Miranda Price for Senior Ladies Team Kumite at the JKA European Senior and Cadet Championships the previous month in Maastricht.
This tournament was well organised and the Serbian people were very hospitable which all contributed to a fantastic weekend with the JKA England Junior Team winning 9 medals comprising:
- Four gold medals; Tom Tsao – Boys 10 years Individual Kata; Marie Douillet – Girls 11 years Individual Kumite; Roisin Campbell – Girls 16/17 years Individual Kumite and Rachel O’Halloran, Jana Sersnova and Roisin Campbell – Girls 16/17 years Team Kumite.
- Two silver medals; Talin Keoshgerian – Girls 12 years Individual Kata and Jana Sersnova, Rachel O’Halloran and Roisin Campbell – Girls 16/17 years Team Kata
- Three bronze medals; Marie Douillet – Girls 11 years Individual Kata; Rhiannon Hackman – Girls 12 years Individual Kata and Talin Keoshgerian – Girls 12 years Individual Kumite.
All in all, the squad numbered 11 competitors and so our medal return was impressive.
The standard of competition was very high across many of the categories and was better than previously seen. It was nice to be congratulated by other countries for our strong style of Karate. The future is looking very positive for JKA England with the rest of our Squad developing and growing at a steady rate and indeed, for JKA Europe itself.
None of the success of the Team can be achieved without the support of Sensei Ohta and JKA England. An enormous thanks goes to the organisers in Maastricht and Belgrade for the hard work and generous hospitality that is put into arranging these international competitions. Sensei Adel and Sensei Gary would also like to thank the referees, Roy Tomlin and Angelo Sanna who accompanied the Team that competed in Maastricht.
Children’s report – Marie Douillet
My first Internationals! The excitement was high. The crowd was so unbelievable. For me, an eleven years old's girl, my first Junior Europeans was fantastic! The support of my friends from the Squad was really nice and comforting. Everybody was there for each other. And finally most of the Squad Members had great results : 4 golds, 2 silvers, and 3 bronze.
But having a gold and a bronze medals isn't an easy thing on your first international. That is why I would like to thank Sensei Ohta, Sensei Gary and Sensei Adel, for putting so much effort in our training, so that we can achieve those results and be champions!
Main Article - By Gary Stewart – Assistant JKAE Team Coach
Children’s report – Marie Douillet
(photo - Cendrine Douillet) |
