BMA Clondalkin competitors take podium spots
BUSHIDO Clondalkin fielded a small elite squad at the Junior & Senior National Kickboxing Championships in Citywest Hotel last weekend, all of them securing podium places and, with it, a chance to represent Ireland at the WAKO World Junior Championships held in Jesolo Lido, Italy in September.
Ireland’s current World and European champion Karyna Nikitina entered the national championships still nursing a torn hamstring from the Irish Open International a month previous.
As this was her final year competing in the Junior National Championships, she wanted to make her mark despite having to contend with such a severe injury.
Drawing on years of experience, she was able to dominate her points fighting category in the junior-65kg division and outclassed a strong TMA competitor to make it eight national junior titles in succession.
She was able to compete in the Senior National Championships where she came up against Hurricane Martial Arts (Edenderry) top senior competitor Claire Brennan who is no stranger to the senior national team.
This three round battle was touch and go for the first two rounds but in the final two-minute round, Karyna stepped up a gear and took the win by four points for her first senior national title in her first ever senior championships outing.
“Not only did she survive, she left her mark as one of the best junior competitors Ireland has ever had and now has already began her senior legacy,” said BMA Clondalkin Head Coach Ilija Salerno.
Meanwhile Ryan Wade competed in the Pee Wee 9-10 years of age division and reached the final in which he was pipped in the last few seconds.
Older sibling Amy took gold in the Younger Cadets Light Contact -42kg division, subsequently defending her national title from last season.
Georgia McAllister reached two finals in the Younger Cadet +47kg division, losing on both counts to strong Tallaght Martial Arts competitors.
Francis Ryan took his first Older Cadet +69kg National title by outpointing a game BMA Cork competitor in his straight two round final.
Zach Lamari’s brilliant year so far continued after he claimed a double national title in the Younger Cadets -42kg Light Contact and Points Fighting.
Jaide Gibbons, contesting the -65kg Senior Full Contact division, received a walkover win and claimed her fifth consecutive senior national prize.
Liam was edged out on a very close split decision by Jake Patterson from KKC in what was a tough three round battle for the Men’s -81kg title.
