BANGOR’S Helena Stitt once again proved she is one of the best junior karate athletes in Ireland at the recent Karate Northern Ireland Open Championships.
The event, held at the Queen’s University Physical Education Centre in Belfast, saw Helena deliver an amazing double, winning both her individual kumite (sparring) and individual kata (patterns) titles – a superb achievement against competitors from Ireland, England, Scotland, Poland and Italy.
Helena’s coach, David Brashaw, said: “Helena simply gets better and better at high-level events. She loves a challenge and then focuses on achieving it. A top, top athlete.”
The Mizukara kata trio of Amy Adair, Levi Kane and last-minute replacement Ben Ritchie followed on the gold medal successes by beating two top Italian teams in their event.
World kata silver medallist Levi Kane added a bronze to her amazing tally over the last year when up against the sleeker stance styles of Shtokan and Shito-Ryu competitors.
A third gold was added in the ladies’ junior grades individual by Ewa Mazur. Her teammate from the Mizukara club in Holywood, Kath Stevenson, added bronze in the higher-grade ladies’ kata event.
Their kata coach, Amy Adair, said: “A superb achievement. We have more and more mums taking up karate and achieving great results.”
Newcomer to the big competitions, Sydney Murdoch, followed up on her Northern Ireland gold with a silver at this event.
The final medals for the Ards and North Down Mizukara karate athletes were won by Niamh Parker, a bronze in kumite, and Harrison Stitt, also a bronze in kumite.
Coach David Brashaw added: “We had many, many excellent performances from our students at this event.
“The following athletes were unlucky not to add more medals to our tally – Megan and Rachel Benson, Abigail and Bella Cordner, Freya and Lewis Grindle, Joel and Caleb Orchin, Finn Hastings, Ethan Calwell, Oliver Prohaszka, Cooper McEvilly, Ben Ritchie, Oliver Mazur, Noah Parker and Niamh Greer.
“I would at this time like to say a big thank you to our parent volunteers on the day, who did an excellent job helping the event run smoothly.”
Mizukara athletes are currently preparing for their annual display day that is scheduled for Saturday, June 17.
Those interested in karate, Tai Chi, fitness and self defence classes in Newtownards, Bangor and Holywood can contact David Brashaw on 07760 337578 or message Mizukara Karate Club via Facebook.
