TWO IKU WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR VALE KARATE!

Five Vale Karate athletes were proud to be part of the small but very strong Karate Wales squad which attended the IKU (International Karate Union) World Championships, held in Kilkenny, Ireland from the 19th -22nd October 2017.

All categories were tough, but the quality of our squad shone through as Ellie-Jayne Farrugia in the Children's 10-11 categories earned a silver in Kata and another silver in Kumite!
Vale Karate's double WUKF European Champion, Chiara Baker, competing in the Young Ladies 12-13 year age groups took a bronze in Kumite and a silver in Kata, both Ellie-Jayne and Chiara missed kata golds by whiskers!

Alysha Lee also went all the way to the final in the Female Cadets 14-15 Kumite and also very narrowly missed the gold medal to take Vale Karate's third silver to add to a bronze medal.

The senior events featured Vale's coaches Leah Copeland and Luke Howard.
Luke is no stranger to winning major events and is already a multiple WUKF/UWK and IKU World Champion.
He was a class above his adversaries in Kilkenny and with some great displays, was once again the IKU World Champion! 

Like Chiara and Ellie-Jayne, Leah's Kata looked good enough for gold, and like her students, the flags went against her in the Kata final, by the narrowest of margins 3-2!

However she was not to be denied in the Kumite and earned her first Global title with a great win.
 

Congratulations must also go to the other members of the Karate Wales squad who came back with a tremendous haul of medals.

Pictures:
TOP: Those who attended Club Night congratulate our International medallists
BELOW: Leah, Luke, Alysha, Chiara & Ellie-Jayne with their medals.

VALE FIND GREAT SUCCESS AT UK OPEN

Vale Karate took only a small squad the UK Open in Harlow on Sunday 24th Sept, but emerged with impressive results in both Kata and Kumite!
Brad James took the Special Needs Kata gold medal, continuing his winning streak which he carried over from the WKL.

Sarah Morgan has entered two WKLs this season, winning both the Ladies and Ladies Veteran golds in both! The UK Open was her first foray outside the WKL for some years, but she took Vale Karate's second gold of the day in the Ladies Veteran Kata. Vale's double WUKF European Champion Chiara Baker was also on form to take the 10-13 Girls Advanced Kata gold medal.

The Kumite events started with impressive displays by Elle-Mai Lee who came within a whisker of taking another gold, in the Girls 7-9 Kumite, settling in the end for a silver. Alysha Lee and Lauren Moran both reached the last four of the girls 13-14 advanced kumite, with Lauren taking the bronze medal and Alysha going all the way, taking the gold medal. Finally Josh Davies contested the 15-17 Boys Kumite and back to winning ways took Vale's fifth gold medal of the day. Fine performances from Mayzi Lee, Talia Efstathiou, Heidi Randall-Sidaway, Amelie Fisher and Greg James, but they were unable to add to the tally on this occasion. Many thanks must go to our coach Leah, who couldn't have been prouder of our great squad!

CLICK THE IMAGES FOR CAROUSEL

VALE KARATE EXTEND THEIR LEAD AT WKL III

The Vale Karate Squad had another successful day on Sunday September 10th as Penarth was the venue for WKL III.

The Vale Squad were once again top of the medal table, with 10 Golds, 5 silvers and 11 Bronzes won, extending their lead on the overall medal table. Vale now have 27 Golds, 21 silvers and 30 bronzes, 8 golds ahead of ESKU/GKR and thirteen ahead of the WKU and Kansei who are both on 14 golds just ahead of SSKA on 13.
Well done to all who competed, whether medals were won or not. The next WKL is in Neath on the 29th October.

Gold Medals:
Bradley James,
Chiara, Ella & Ellie Jayne (Vale Cheetahs)
Angel Manayani,
Amelie Fisher,
Ellie-Jayne Farrugia,
Chiara Baker,
Danica Apologista,
Josh Davies,
Sarah Morgan (x2)

Silver Medals:
Connor Ashill,
Lucas Widdrington,
Jakob Bartush,
Elle-Mai Lee,
Chiara Baker 

Bronze medals:
Mark & Ella,
Danica Apologista,
Jack Eustace,
Talia Efstathiou,
Lloyd Beer,
Ella Lyons,
Ellie-Jayne Farrugia,
Amy Curry,
Alysha Lee,
Lauren moran,
Jack, Lloyd & Elle-Mai (Vale U10s)

LEAH HONOURED TO CARRY THE BATON!

Vale Karate Instructor and Welsh Number one Leah Copeland was thrilled to be invited to be a 'Queen's Baton Bearer' at the Commonwealth Baton Relay, which took place at Barry Island on Tuesday September 5th.

Leah joined other local celebrities and sporting such as champion boxer Lee Selby, Olympic Champion sailor Hannah Mills and News presenter Lucy Owen who took part in the event, which was part of the Batons 230,000km journey across the Commonwealth before reaching the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on 4th April 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia.

The Baton Bearer's were selected as ambassadors of their community and Vale Karate could not be prouder of Leah, a great role model for all young children, and all Vale Karate and Karate Wales students.