ESKA 2011

The KUGB England Team returned from the European Shotokan Karate-do Championships in Bielsko-Biala, Poland. Sendai Kushiro members, Sensei John Bruce, Holly Sterling, Megan Dent and Chris Hamilton were selected as part of a very strong England team.

Sensei John James was in the senior male team that took Silver in the Senior Male Team Kumite event, beating Sweden, Portugal and Ukraine on the way to the final against Germany, which after all five of the team fought there was an exact draw, only after a very close and intense fight did the very strong German team take the title.

Holly Sterling performed excellently taking a Bronze in the ladies individual Kumite, after beating some very strong and experienced opponents, including the current World silver medalist. Holly just missed out on this years Kata final by 0.3 and finishing in 5th place. In Holly's third and final event, along with team mates Ashley Scott and Rhianne Blundell took Silver in the Senior Ladies Team Kumite after a close final match verses Austria.

Megan Dent had a very tough first round draw, meeting the eventual winner. Megan was also part of the Junior ladies Team Kumite along with Rebecca Rawcliffe and Melissa Finlay but were defeated in a close match versus Poland. 

Chris Hamilton competing for his very first time on the European stage took it into his stride and was outstanding in all four events taking a bronze medal in the cadet Kata and Kumite along with a Gold medal in the Junior Team Kata with team mates Jack Sommers and Hisham Saif.

Full England Results

Cadet Male Kata – Gold Jack Sommers

Cadet Male Kata – Bronze Chris Hamilton

Cadet Male Kumite – Bronze Chris Hamilton

Cadet Male Kumite – Bronze Joe Finlay

Junior Male Kata – Bronze Hisham Saif

Junior Male Team Kata – Gold Chris Hamilton, Hisham Saif, Jack Somers

Junior Male Team Kumite – Bronze Joseph Rawcliffe, James McGorian, Jordan Probst, Stephen Brown

Senior Male Kata – Silver Hisham Saif

Senior Ladies Kumite – Bronze Holly Sterling

Senior Male Kumite – Bronze Ryan Tucker

Senior Ladies Team Kumite – Silver Holly Sterling, Ashley Scott, Rhianne Blundell.

Senior Male Team Kumite – Silver John Bruce, Chris Cray, Ryan Tucker, Jonathan McGorian, Joseph Rawcliffe, James McGorian.

Also congratulations to Jimmy Brennan on gaining his International Referees qualification.