Newcastle Dojo members shine in Liverpool Open
MEMBERS of the WADO Dojo in Newcastle figured strongly in a successful outing for WADO Martial Arts Ireland squad in the recent KKO Liverpool Open Karate Championships 2019.
In what was the first competition of the year for the panel which also included members of Rathangan Dojo, Ireland accounted for three gold, four silver and three bronze by the close of proceedings.
WMAI members performed superbly at the Liverpool Open Karate Championships 2019,
Newcastle’s Stephen Naughton emerged top from a Veterans Section 35 Plus Open Grade Kumite division that involved 22 competitors with a lot of experience between them.
Despite having sustained a foot injury in the semi finals he continued on to win his decider 5-1 before also picking up silver in the Veterans Kata Section 4th Kyu and below.
His Newcastle clubmates Oisin Brennan, Eoghan Foley and Ian Coughlin also made the podium, the former winning gold in the 15/17yrs 4th Kyu and below Kumite section.
Foley, meanwhile, picked up bronze in 18/34yrs 4th Kyu and below Kata, while there was bronze also for Coughlin in Veterans Section 35yrs Plus Open Grade Kumite.
Among the medal winners for the Rathangan contingent were Sophie Reid (gold in Girls 10/12yrs Open Grade Kumite) and Alex Corcoan (bronze in 7/9yrs Open Grade Kumite) while clubmates Evan Corcoran and Ella McLoughlin also performed well.
What’s more the WMAI Girls Team of Reid, McLoughlin and Jaycea Brennan combined to win silver in the Girls 10/12yrs Team Kumite – a superb achievement given that this was their first time competing together.
While they did not finish among the medals, the WMAI Boys Team of Krystian Hyland, Oscar Brennan and Reece Dowling, also competing together for the first time, won the first round and lost 3-2 in the second.
Next up will be a Fight Night in the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght on April 13. Tickets are available at wado@eircom.net with proceeds going towards funding the team for the WUKF World Championships, taking place in Slovakia in June.
