Floods can’t stop karate competition (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)
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Floods can’t stop karate competition
3:00pm Friday 4th November 2005 in News By Guardian-series
KARATE SHOWDOWN: Some of the competitors pictured after the event (c)
KARATE clubs from London and the surrounding area gathered for the National Shotokan Karate Championships, which took place at the Wanstead Leisure Centre.
Over 200 karate competititors took part in the tournament, which was put in doubt when the centre was recently flooded, but went ahead after an emergency area was created.
Chief instructor of the karate group Rob Butler said: "Although the place was flooded out we had a great time.
"The atmosphere was fantastic and I'm very pleased with the high standard of the competitors.
"We managed well and in fact in our 20th year, this was our best ever championships."
The overall winners of the championship were the Wanstead club. Sensei Tony Aidoo led his team out to beat competitors from Chingford, Leyton, Tring, Enfield, Whitechapel and Larkswood.
The Wanstead junior team, which was led by Kibi Sisulu, beat all comers in the junior event.
The ladies' Kumite team from Chingford, led by Senel Dervish, took the honours in the ladies team event.
If you would like to know more about karate you can telephone the secretary on 0845 4303 007.
