ESKA European Championships 23rd-25th Nov 2007

The LKA had an excellent contingent of 5 competitors represent the KUGB England Team at the ESKA Eurpoean Championships held in Porto, Portugal during the last weekend in November.

Everyone of them performed well and all returned home with a medal, as they did in Poland at the World Championships.

David Wright, our recent recruit from Ashington, showed his all round ability by being part of the Junior Team Kata that took 4th place with Unsu and then in the Junior Team Kumite where they took Silver, beaten by a classy Austrian Team in the final. Ryan Tucker was also part of this team and the future looks good for us with these two talented young men in our ranks!

Natasha Balyckyi was part of the Junior Female Team Kata event where she took a Bronze medal. She also fought very well over the weekend with a good run in the Individual event and was part of the Junior Female Team Kumite too.

Ashley Scott fought well in the Senior Female Kumite, losing to one of the very strong Polish Team in the last 16. Her opponent went on to finish 2nd overall. Ashley was also reserve for the Senior Female Team Kumite where the England Team took a Bronze medal, losing to Austria in the Semi Final.

The highlight of the weekend was the Senior Male Kumite events. Chris Cray of Malvern followed in Matt Price's footsteps from last year by becoming European Kumite Champion, with an excellent win over his German opponent in the Final. Michael Davison took bronze in the same event.

This was follwed by the Senior Male Team Kumite event where Matt Price, making his final competitive appearance, led the KUGB England Team to the European title. After a Bye in the first round they defeated Sweden in the Quarter Final, a very exciting match against Switzerland in the Semi Final and then Beat Germany in the Final. So within 2 months, the same 5 Men have taken both European and World Team Kumite titles. The Senior Team was Matt Price, John James Bruce, Chris Cray, Michael Davison amp; Anthony Duffy, with John McGrorian as reserve. Many congratulations to them all.

We're sure many would be interseted to hear that next year the European Championships are to be held in England, allowing everyone access to such a high level event.