Cancun, Mexico 2009 World Shotokan Karate Championships

 

Cancun was a wonderful venue with superb, weather ,food, drink and Karate.

 

The Welsh team of Alyn Weyman,Lee butler, Matt Stockham,Chris Evans , Calum O’Neill, Paul James, Christian Whale, Mark Leggett,Kai Stroud, Ross James and Nikki Stockham all quickly bonded and the team spirit has never been higher.

 

The team stayed at he beautiful Barcello beach resort and where only 20 min drive from the well appointed Benito Juarez Stadium.

 

The Saturday was for the junior events while the Sunday had all the senior events.  Our in form competitor Kai Stroud performed well in the kata but was eliminated early and despite forcing his opponent back in the kumite his timing was off and was beaten 2-0. Nikki was up next and was eliminated early in kata which was proving to be a very high standard. Thankfully things changed in the kumite when Nicky flew through the eliminations cleanly beating every opponent and reaching the cadet finals. Nikki also got through the eliminations of the junior event beating the semi finalist she was due to fight later that day in the cadet event but lost to a very strong polish fighter. Whilst Nicky was making her way to the finals Ross James was in superb form beating a strong polish fighter in the first round then defeating British Junior champion David Wright as well as a superb Austrian fighter who I had picked out to win.He was in great form pushing his opponents back and landing with kicks and punches showing great speed and timing.

 

With two medals in the bag we were having a great day and everyone in the team was over joyed with the youngsters success. In the evening Nicky fought the Austrian in a seesaw battle which went to extra time but saw her narrowly losing but winning her first international medal coming third. Ross on the other hand had fought his semi final earlier and faced another Austrian fighter in the Junior Men’s final. This again proved to be a fine match with Ross extremely unlucky not to be awarded a foot sweep and punch combination in a rapid exchange. This proved to be key and Ross eventually lost by a guyakzuki. Both on and off the matt these two young athletes were superb role models to everyone and great ambassadors for my Welsh team ,I was very proud.

 

The following day started well with Paul James beating British Champion JJ Bruce in the first round of the kata and eventually lost in the third round to the eventual winner from Peru. Christian Whale also progressed to the third round showing a strong return to international competition after 4 years. Mark Leggett also cam within a whisper of beating Dean Field British medallist with 2 flags each the referee went with Field. In the team event Wales showed good progress from the ESKA event in Crawley and the hard work showed. This team  had practiced hard for three days solid to be placed sixth out of twelve although I felt 5^th would have been more accurate , England placed fourth.

 

Due to the draw system we were first on every sheet in the senior men’s kumite and in an early upset Chris Evans beat JJ Bruce in the first round 2-0 and progressed to the third round to lose to the Austrian who had beaten Ross the day before. Both Alyn Weyman and Calum O’Neill fought big fighters towering over them at 6’3’. Alyn lost 2-0 to a Czech and Calum in a bruising match with the eventual silver medallist from USA lost to a disputed head kick which the film showed he ducked under.

Matt Stockham continued with his fantastic run in internationals losing in the third round to another 6’3 fighter from Poland in extra time. The Pole eventually came third. Lee Butler proved the pundits wrong again defeating British world medallist Dean Field in the first round eventually losing to a Mexican in a disputed match one fight away from the medals.

 

With Scotland and England having byes the draw system continued with us fighting the eventual silver medallists Czech Republic in the first elimination round. The team fought well with Matt and Lee securing strong  punching techniques  but taking some facial damage on the way to wins and Chris was on fire but was held to a draw in a match he needed to win, Alyn fought the giant he had faced earlier and despite scoring first lost 2-1, Calum hit his opponent with a kick punch combination but it was not awarded but lost 2-0 in a very entertaining match . The match drawed 2 wins each I called out Chris Evans to fight their giant to settle matters, this match went to extra time and we lost by a single gyakuzuki, we could n’t have got closer.

 

A great display but no medals and we were up there as one of the top four teams on the day. England won the final with the other strong team USA finishing third behind our victors the Czech‘s.

 

Richie Poole was appointed Chair of WSKA and maybe I will keep my job till Austria thanks to Ross and Nikki.

 

A great display which we celebrated in true Welsh fashion…Coco Bongo the greatest nightclub in the world!!

 

Kevin O’Neill

 

Welsh Coach