Chichester karate members face best from around country

They have been training hard, honing their kata and fighting skills.

The competition consisted of individual kata (a set of attacking and defensive moves); followed by junior and adult team kata. Teams of three or four show a demonstration of kata with synchronised timing, demonstrating their understanding of moves.

Kumite is a match where each competitor scores points based on the technique executed against their opponent. To score depends on good timing, focus, excellent speed and correct distance combined with power.

Chichester kept up a winning streak, winning an array of medals. In the junior white belt kata division, Archie Willis achieved an excellent silver medal with Liam Tucker narrowly missing out.

George Boultard performed well and gained a well-deserved silver. In the fifth and fourth kyu division Benedict Hothersall took top honours with Nalin Ralph adding bronze in a very strong group.

In the junior brown and black belt section, George Waller put on an excellent display but was pipped into third place by two black belts from Chelmsford.

Siani Proctor won gold in the tenth-to-sixth Kyu cadet division and Lucinda Boultard gained an impressive bronze in her debut competition. Matthew Foster took first place with Monty Newton third in the Cadet Brown and Black belt section.

The adult kata competition saw Kris Slocki take home gold with Carrie Proctor in bronze, Paul Ralph just missing out on a podium position. This competition was Proctor and Ralph’s first venture into this competition.

Sarah Ridley put on a fantastic display of kata to beat rivals from tWeymouth, putting Chichester top in the adult brown belts. Andy Hibbert was beaten into second by Weymouth instructor Pete Thompson but must have been pleased to clinch silver in the adult kata.

In the team event, Chichester teams won silver in the lower-coloured belt section and adult team division with gold for George Waller, Monty Newton and Siani Proctor in the higher-coloured belt section.

Polly Tregear kept the medals coming with a fine performance in the girls’ eight-to-nine-year-olds’ Kumite to take away a well-deserved silver.

In a difficult ten-13 years kumite girls, Nalin Ralph kept her head, fought well and only just missed a gold medal, settling for second. Leo Tregear made it a family double with silver in his division. Benedict Hothersall added to Chichester medal haul with a silver.

Despite a hard fought bout Sarah Ridley went out in the Ladies kumite.

Chichester men Kris Slocki and Andy Hibbert met in the arena which ended in deadlock. The decision went to the judges with Slocki edging the fight. His opponent won the winning point in the final.

The men’s 17-23-year-old division saw Robert Prior take on a Weymouth opponent but Prior was too strong and fast. He fought in the final against Chelmsford team member but Prior’s strength and speed saw him clinch gold.

Club instructor Alan Prior thanked all the parents who support the club. “The club has some fantastic people. The juniors are a credit to themselves, their families and Chichester Karate Club. Our members, adults and kids train extremely hard to achieve a very high standard of karate which was on display at the competition.”

Chichester Karate Club train at the New Park Centre, Chichester. For details visit www.chichester karate.co.uk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking sports news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!