April News 09

A small selected EKKA Senior Squad travelled with Squad Coach Paul Harris to the 5th Scottish International Open Championships on Saturday 4th April at the Meadow Sports Centre Edinburgh.

This Elite event has been attracting some of the best competitors from around Europe, with over 800 competitors it proved to be worth the journey. Our only individual medal was from Loren Cook in the Senior Female +60kg losing out in a close final taking a well deserved Silver.

EKKA Senior Female team Loren Cook, Reisha Hull and Emily Griffiths excelled themselves once again after their triumph at the Senior English Championships were fighting on top form beating Scotland and Denmark on their way to the final but having to settle for Silver on this occasion.

Emily Griffiths and Chris Harris have both been selected to represent England at the Senior European Championships in Croatia. Both have been undergoing the selection process with new England Coach Wayne Otto over the last 4 months, pre-training for this event will commence from Friday 24th April to the 4th May. They will then travel out to Croatia on the 5th May to compete in the championships. Good luck to them both.

The first EKF Midland Regional Championships were held on Sunday 19th April 2009. The Championships were held at the Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge in the West Midlands. With over 500 competitors from 66 clubs and 60 categories to get through, the event management team did a fantastic job of ensuring the all categories were completed around 7:30pm. Six matted areas had been set up and were run continuously with out any breaks ensuring the Championships continually flowed. The most notable official of the day was the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Ray Burston, who attended the morning session in the company of England assistant national coach Ian Cole. The Mayor was thoroughly impressed with the performances and standard of the competitors and was invited to present some of the medals to the medal winners.

First to compete for the LKK team where Sam Day and Tom Raymer both in the 4th Kyu and below Kata, unfortunately were placed on the same side of the draw and met in the semi final with Tom winning two flags to one leaving Sam having to settle for the Bronze. While Tom progressed to the final taking his first English Regional Kata title.

Chloe Duce once again came so close to winning a medal but was unlucky to be caught by a head kick in the last three seconds of the match costing her a Bronze.

The seniors were to follow with Chris Harris in the 18yrs -60kg breezed through to the final taking the Gold. Emily Griffiths -50kg proving to be once again the best in this group taking the Gold. Loren Cook -68kg fought her to the final but losing out to a 2/1 decision and had to settle for the Silver this time.