Rothwell Shotokan News
This section of our site is dedicated to all our students’ achievements and recent successes. It will include any competition success, Dan grade promotions and important club news. Monthly newsletters are handed to all club members and include more detailed news and events. This page is intended to compliment the Monthly newsletter.
2007 Northern Region Championships.
Rothwell Shotokan Karate Club had a large squad of competitors enter the Nothern Region championships. The event was once again held at the South Leeds Stadium and was a huge success with a good increase in competitors and spectators alike. Our club entered a total of 18 competitors that took part in both the kata and kumite events. The list of competitors were: Club instructors Rob and Sharon Taylor, Joe Bennett, Cameron Rhodes, Bethany Gilvarry, Gareth Tennant, Rebecca Chapman, Xander Bradley, Georgia Silla, Shelby Hudson, Sophie Sice, Maisie Higginson, Robyn Carter, Heather Noble, Helen Mearis, Jessica Langley, Jessica Bailey and Hannah Edwards. There were some excellent performances with many students narrowly missing out on final placings. With more training and better preparation we are sure next year we will have some good results. Well-done to everyone who took part.
2007 Rothwell SKC Kata Competition.
The list of students that entered this year were Bethany Edginton, Jessica Langley, Hollie Woolston, Jake Woolston, Jack Ainsworth, Harry Ainsworth, Adam Pearson, Sarah Pearson, Zoe Laughton, Jordan Booth, Thomas Speight, Maisie Higginson, Hannah Murfin, Jade Bush Mcbride, Shelby Hudson, Codie Rossi, Hannah Edwards, Thomas Bailey, Jessica Bailey, Robyn Carter, Isaac Higginson, Helen Mearis, Georgia Silla, Victoria Brown, Rebecca Chapman, Matthew Chapman, Gareth Tennant, Victoria Brown, Lydia Marshall, Alfie Pearson, Jack Saddington and Jack Dodworth.
This year we had an all girl final with some very close decisions. There was initially a tie for second place between Shelby Hudson and Jessica Langley but this time it was Shelby who achieved second place. There was no disputing this year’s champion who won in excellent style, Georgia Silla. Georgia is currently a 3rd Kyu and is improving in leaps and bounds and is definitely set on achieving her Black belt. This turned out to be an excellent event for both competitors and all the spectators who came to show their support. We will just have to wait and see if Georgia can retain her title next year.
Georgia Silla 1st Place
Shelby Hudson 2nd Place
Jessica Langley 3rd Place
Robyn Carter 4th Place
2007 Best up & coming Junior: Maisie Higginson
2007 Best up & coming Senior: Helen Mearis
All-England Open Championships
At the beginning of October our club was invited to enter the All-England Open Championships, held at Richard Dunn Leisure Centre, Bradford. This particular day only Sensei Rob Taylor and Joe Bennett entered from our club but both placed 2nd and 3rd in the Senior Male Kata event. Rob won this event last year but this year had to settle for second. A 3rd place position for Joe is an excellent achievement. An excellent performance of ‘Kanku-sho’ secured him 3rd place. Rob performed ‘Sochin’ for his final kata and narrowly lost his title from the previous year. This was a good experience for Joe and he performed really well.
Cameron Rhodes passes Black belt.
Special congratulations to Cameron Rhodes who successfully passed his Shodan grading at the end of last year. His grading was conducted by KUGB Senior instructor, Sensei Andy Sherry, 8th Dan. Cameron trains all the time and rarely misses any training sessions. He is a very determined karate-ka and we are in no doubt that he will make an excellent Black belt in the future.
New club assistant Instructors.
On Saturday the 8th of December both Joe Bennett and Gareth Tennant were successful at achieving their KUGB instructor qualifications. Both were assessed by KUGB senior instructor, Sensei Gary Harford, 7th Dan. Joe and Gareth conducted a short lesson of about 15 students and they both looked very nervous. Both passed with flying colours and are now qualified Rothwell SKC instructors! Thanks to all the students who gave up their time to help out. Congratulations to them both.