September News 09

Links Karate Kai students were selected to represent their association, EKKA, at the British Karate Championships, which this year was to be held on the 4th and 5th September at the Meadow Bank Sports Centre Edinburgh, Scotland.

With 1400 individual entries and 90 teams entered into the team events and some of the highest standard of competitors with the overall entry larger than most years. Even if for most competitors and supporters alike it was to be quite a long haul up to Scotland.

The first day saw the Seniors compete and it proved to be the more successful of the two day event for our squad. Emily Griffiths was to take the Silver in the Ladies -50kg followed by Chris Harris in the Senior Males -60kg fought his way through the rounds gaining the Bronze. Loren Cook in the first of her two sections took our second Silver of the day in the Ladies -68kg and then made it a pair by getting another Silver in the Ladies Open Weight.

Then in the last event of the day was the Senior Ladies team Loren Cook, Reisha Hull and Emily Griffiths which once again they proved they are one of the best teams in England and a team to be reckoned with. The girls fought at their very best on their way to the final which was to be an England v Scotland match. With both teams eager to win the title and both teams scoring points in every round it was to be a close call, but EKKA was to claim the win and this year’s title Ladies British Team Champions 2009.

Day two saw our Junior Squad compete even if we were not to see anymore individual medals added to the score sheets. They competed to their very best showing real spirit and of course gained the essential experiences of competing at a major championship. We were to have our spirits lifted once again by our young Boys 7 to 9 yrs team; Zak Coates, Lincon Pretlove and Laurence Gill, who showed they mean business. Fighting at their first major championships showing off some of their skills winning through the rounds and giving us our second Gold team win of the championships: Boys Team Champions 2009.

Gold: 2
Silver: 3
Bronze: 1

Juniors: Lincon Pretlove, Zak Coates, Laurence Gill, Sam Day Chloe Duce, Daniel Szabo.

Senior: Kelly Pender, Chris Harris, Emily Griffiths, Loren Cook.

Loren Cook, Chris Harris and Emily Griffiths, 3 of LKK Senior Squad members attended the German Open in Frankfurt Germany on Saturday 12th and 13th September ‘09. This high ranking competition is part of a run of championships which these athletes are entering over the course of the year called the Golden League.

Unfortunately this time we were to see no medals won by Loren, Chris or Emily, which goes to show from their English track records the standard of these championships. Even so, they all fought well and can expect a better result next time.

Of course medals are never the sole reason for our athletes to be entered into a high standard event such as this. It is also to enable the competitor and the coaches to gain knowledge of the other athletes and their skills. The confidence also gained by attending and competing at a higher standard than normal in turn this will enable the team to do better next time and help us to achieve their goals whether it be representing the club, Association or Country.

Sam Beck has passed her EKKA Association Referees qualification and has been presented with her Association tie and badge.

After passing her theory test about six months ago, she has had to under go the LKK Referees training schedule and pass the practical skills of refereeing with her Instructor Sensei Paul LKK.

After fulfilling all the requirements of LKK and EKKA, she will now be able to join the other EKKA referees at open championships.

Well done from all at LKK.

LKK Squad members from all Links Karate Kai clubs; Clacton, Gt Holland, Wix and Dovercourt, travelled to Cheshunt to attend the BIKO Open Karate Championships on the 20th September. The LKK Team and supporters are always in good form and this was to prove the case once again taking medals at all levels and with our parents and supporters in good voice it was to be a good day for the team.

The Kata events were first up and with the groups well prescribed it was going to be hard to win any medals. In the under 9yrs Open Grade LKK had several competing and with most making the second round, but it was Ben Jones who took our only medal in this section a well deserved Bronze.

In the 10 to 15yrs 2nd Kyu and below, Sam Day and Tom Raymer proved once again to be the top two competitors in this section. Meeting each other once again in the final with Tom winning through by one point to take the Gold and Sam the Silver.

Marc Burnett in his first Kata competition as an LKK Kata Squad member in the Men's 1st Kyu and above section gaining the highest mark of the day on his mat took Gold.

The Kumite fighting sections were to follow, this was to be a mixed section; 9yrs old and under, under 4ft 3", Kayleigh Mead had an exceptional day winning through the rounds winning herself a Bronze medal. Laurence Gill from LKK Dovercourt stormed his way to the final taking the Gold in the section. Followed by 9yrs and under over 4ft 3" with several competitors from LKK in this section and one of the largest groups of the day they had their work cut out we managed to get two on the podium with Zak Coates taking the Bronze and Ben Jones the Silver.

Jake Pickering had just moved up an age group to the 13 to 15yrs section and it was going to be a real test for him but he proved himself by taking the Bronze medal.

Chloe Duce and Emily Appleby both fighting in the 13 to 15yrs Girls, both in separate height groups both winning Bronze medals.

Jack Appleby in the 10 to 12yrs had a hard battle through the rounds to make the finals where he had to settle for the Silver this time.

Loren Cook and Emily Griffiths both fighting in the Ladies Open Weight section fought their way through to the final which seems to be the case at most competitions with Loren taking the Gold and Emily the Silver.

The team events were to follow 9yrs and under Gold: Ben Jones and Harry Blundell, Silver: Lincon Pretlove, Zak Coates and Laurence Gill. 10 to 12yrs Gold: Mitchell Williams, Silver: Jack Appleby and Sam Day. 13 to 15yrs Silver: Daniel Szabo and Jake Pickering.

Gold: 6
Silver: 6
Bronze: 5

Juniors: Sam Day, Laurence Gill, Zak Coates, Lincon Pretlove, Fenella Stuart, Ben Jones, Jack Appleby, Emily Appleby, Maisie Raymond, Harry Blundell, Kayleigh Mead, Millie Jordan, Ethon Day, Mitchell Williams, Jake Pickering, Chloe Duce, Daniel Szabo.