36th European Junior & Cadet Championships, Paris, France 2009
Live reports from Paris
Posted 31st January 2009
2nd Day of Competition - Juniors
Day 2 of the championships and this time it’s the turn of the Juniors to impress and surpass the exploits of the Cadet squad members who did very well yesterday. The squad were a little bleary eyed in the morning having to get up earlier for the 7:30am coach.
The two Kata competitors were up on the mat first ahead of the Kumite competitors. Emma Lucraft was up against a strong Italian girl in the 2nd round match after securing a bye in the 1st round. Emma performed Bassai-Dai but lost out 5 flags to 0 as her opponents Kanku-Dai proved too strong.
Jack Dixon also received a 1st round bye and was straight into round 2. Jack performed Kanku-Dai, as did his Croatian opponent but Jack got the flags 3-2 in his favour. The 3rd round saw Jack perform Unsu against his Russian opponent’s Kanku-Sho and Jack stormed to a 4-1 victory to make the semi-finals. Jack performed Kanku-Sho against his Slovakian’s Chatanyara Kushanku but unfortunately this time the 4-1 vote went against him leaving him the repechage semi-final. The next round Jack faced a Serbian opponent who performed Gankaku. Jack matched his Kata and won the round 3-2 to make the repechage final. Jack performed Goju Shiho-Sho against his Austrian opponent’s Sochin and Jack stormed to victory with a 5-0 win to claim European Bronze.
The Kumite fighters were on next with both Jay Kirton and Ben Coward fighting at the same time on different mats. Ben Coward, who was competing in the U61kg event came out feisty harassing his Slovenian opponent and eventually scored a 3 point Jodan kick. As his opponent advance Ben picked him off with a series of Gyakuzuki punches to win the fight 6-0. The 2nd round pitted Ben against a Czech opponent and both fighters fought a cagey fight as they both tested each other. On the minute mark Ben took the lead courtesy of his opponent’s penalty point for contact but Ben returns the favour almost immediately. Suddenly a clash of heads/face with 30 seconds left on the clock and Ben is penalised with disqualification.
Jay Kirton was competing in the U555kg event and came out fast and furious against his Scottish opponent but was unable to score until 39 seconds remained on the clock and Jay threw a Ura-Mawashigeri to score 3 points. The Scottish lad pulled a point back before the end but Jay had done enough to advance into the next round. Up against a German fighter in the 2nd round Jay has another fast and furious fight. The German gave away a penalty point away within the first minute and Jay extended his lead shortly after with a Gyakuzuki punch. The German then gave away a series of contact warnings and finally get disqualified handing the match to Jay. The 3rd round saw Jay have a rough encounter with his Turkish opponent who seemed to have double-jointed legs countering Jays Ura-Mawashigeri kick with his own to open a 3 point lead. Pressing forwards Jay got caught by the same technique again to go 6-0 down. Jay got penalised a few times for holding and with the score at 9-0 the match is won by the Turkish competitor. Jay did make the repechage semi-final and scored the first point against his Croatian opponent. Jay then conceded a Jodan Mawashigeri only to reply with his own to maintain a 1 point advantage. The Croatian then gave away a series of penalty warning points to Jay with him sealing the match 7-3. The repechage final saw Jay against a Russian but Jay is unperturbed and scores the first point. Jay received his second warning for holding and a point to his opponent levels the score. But Jay is now fighting for bronze and goes all out for that point which he gets on 30 seconds left. Jay holds out till the end to secure European Bronze.
Stephanie Thorndick was up next in the U53kg category. Stephanie looked in good shape but dropped two early points to her Serbian opponent. Stephanie then chased the fight and although she picked up a point she eventually bow at 5-1.
The over 59kg category saw Charlotte Platts in action against a Slovakian competitor. Charlotte initially dropped two early points but quickly pulled it back to 2-1 to narrow the score. However, she gave away a penalty point for contact before succumbing to two more Gyakusuki punches finally losing out 5-1. However, her opponent went on to make the final allowing Charlotte a chance of a medal through repechage. Her 1st repechage round was against Cyprus and she looked a different fighter opening up her account well with two quick Gyakuzuki punches. She then kept the momentum going running out a 7-0 winner. The 2nd repechage match saw her face a Danish opponent. Charlotte scored three times without reply until her opponent found her rhythm and brought the score back. Points went both ways with the fighters end the match 6-6 to take it into extra-time. The Danish competitor scored the initial point and then picked off the advancing Charlotte to win the extra-time bout 3-0 leaving Charlotte out of medal contention.
Both Alex’s were in action at the same time but different ends of the hall. Alex Kinsmore competed in the U76kg category and fought a tough opening round match against a Slovenian opponent but eventually came out a 4-2 winner after coming back from an opening 2 point deficit following a Chudan Mawashigeri kick. The 2nd round match saw Alex face a Serbian opponent and Alex kept his winning ways going beating him 6-3. The 3rd round is where Alex’s medal hopes ended as Alex initially gave away a penalty point to his Ukrainian opponent before getting caught with a Gyakuzuki punch. Alex pulled back a point but then lost out again to another Gyakuzuki punch. A final Jodan Mawashigeri kick ended the match 6-2.
Alex Sell competed in the U68kg category and received a 1st round bye. The 2nd round pitted him against a Dutch opponent. A spirited encounter ensued with Alex scoring the only point with 30 seconds remaining and held off his opponent to win the fight. The 3rd round had Alex against a Russia opponent and both fighters fought an edgy fight with neither scoring. After the 1 minute of extra-time the scores remained 0-0. The judges decision vote all went to Alex who had been the busiest taking the fight to his opponent most of the time. The 4th round saw Alex against a Norwegian and Alex dropped an early point. Following two contact warnings Alex gave a penalty point away to this opponent giving him a 2-0 lead. Alex pulled back one point but got caught by a Gyakuzuki punch shortly afterwards. Chasing the fight in the dying seconds Alex thought he had won it following a Ura-Mawashigeri kick, but the referee overruled the judges flag handing the match to the Norwegian with a 3-1 win.
Saule Del-Rio made en early exit in the over 76kg event after facing a Serbian opponent. Both fighters scored a point quickly two more points were divided levelling the scores at 2-2. The Serbian than managed to score two Gyakuzuki punches against Saule leaving him missing out on further progression as he couldn’t reply to the 2 point deficit.
Last but not least, Alice Goudie was fighting in the U59kg category and her opening round fight was a spirited affair against her Finnish opponent. Alice thought she had initially scored a Jodan Mawashigeri kick but her opponent had just stepped out of the area and so her kick did not score. She carried on the fight and with 30 seconds left the Finnish opponent somehow scored against Alice. Within the last 10 seconds of the fight her opponent was penalised for holding which levelled the scores 1-1. Extra time ensued and Alice once again dropped the initial point but she pulled it back in the dying seconds securing a win with a 2 point Chudan Mawashigeri kick. The Finnish opponent gave away a final point through a contact warning leaving Alice with a 3-1 win which saw her into the next round. Alice’s second round fight was a lot more comfortable against her Serbian counterpart. Alice scored the initial point and doubled her lead through a contact penalty warning by her opponent. As the Serbian advanced Alice scored a Ura-Mawashigeri kick to go 5-0 up. Another Serbian contact warning gave Alice a 7-0 lead but Alice herself gave away a penalty point at the end to win the fight 7-1. Alice’s 3rd round opponent was from Holland and Alice started where she left off by scoring the opening point. Shortly afterwards Alice gave away a penalty point for contact levelling the scores to 1-1. Within a few seconds Alice reclaimed the lead from a Gyakuzuki and scored another towards the end to claim a 3-1 and a place in the semi’s. The semi finals saw Alice against a feisty Portugese competitor but, Alice held her own scoring 2 Gyakuzuki’s to seal her place in the final. The final saw Alice against some French home grown talent. With the partisan crowd behind the French competitor, the English Supporters responded to try and give Alice a boost. Alice came out attacking and was unlucky to concede the opening point. Alice continued to attack but once again was caught to go 2-0 down. With less than 30 seconds remaining, Alice let rip but nothing caught the judges eye and dropped a final point. Although unlucky not to win gold she came away as a Junior European silver medallist, a major achievement.
Again there was terrific support from families and friends of the team, it was also nice that the English Karate Federation President Carl Lindley sat with the squad and supporters to cheer the competitors on. Also there have been Club Instructors and some senior team members watching and supporting the next generation of senior squad hopefuls.
Again, upon the squads return to the hotel, the coachs congratulated the Junior members who had competed and said how proud they were of the team and what true team spirit they showed. Carl Lindley reiterated the coach’s sentiments adding that England was back and a force to be reckoned with. The squad then retired for the evening in anticipation for the final events on Sunday.