Saturday 21^st of June was not a bad day for Ikkyo Aberystwyth, bringing back home 9 medals from the KUGB Welsh Region Championships.

Read the full report……

A group of competitors travelled to Merthyr Tydfil with their Chief Instructor and Welsh Squad Kata Coach, Paul James, 5^th Dan, and Instructor, Toni James, 1^st Dan. The competition kicked off at 10am with the Children’s categories starting first. Fergus Tiddeman, Sioned Exley, Cerys Scott, Lowry Scott, Sophie Jones, Nathan Jones and Charlotte Smith competed in Kata, all performing very well. In Kihon Ippon Kumite, Sioned Exley and Cerys Scott did their best, with Cerys (3^rd Kyu, brown belt) doing exceptionally well and winning the 3^rd place to the podium and the bronze medal.

In the Senior categories, the competition was fierce. The competitors had their mind in winning, and winning only they did. In the Individual Men’s events, Christopher Davies, Rostislav Revako, Bernard Tiddeman, Steven Bailey, Peter Ainsley and Nathan Theopanidies, competed against strong opponents in Kata and going one round after the other, Steven Bailey won a hard-fought place in the finals where he performed the Kata Unsu, winning the 3^rd place. Rostislav Revako, Bernard Tiddeman and Steven Bailey, also competed in Individual Kumite. Some spectacular fights for strong nerves were fought by our competitors, narrowly missing a place in the semi-finals.

At the Senior Men’s Team Kumite, on the other hand, our team, comprising of the same three karate-kas, turned the odds in their favour, beating the opponent team and participating in the finals and taking the 2^nd place on the podium, leaving with silver medals and an air of achievement. The victorious team for the Senior Team Kata event of the night brought back to Aberystwyth some more bling, with Steven Bailey, Katharina Hone and Christopher Davies taking home the bronze, winning the 4^th place in the finals in this very challenging event.

In the Senior Ladies’ Individual events, Katharina Hone and Stefani Dritsa competed in both Kata and Kumite. At her first round, Katharina Hone performed against the final champion. The very strong Kata she did certainly convinced some referees, but unfortunately not all. Stefani Dritsa, despite being a 4^th Kyu (purple belt/white stripe), took out all the opponents in her way to the finals, earning the 4^th place and the bronze medal. Katharina and Stefani, also, entered the Kumite event, performing well under some of the finalists.

Congratulations to all competitors for carrying proudly the name of their dojo, Ikkyo Aberystwyth and for bringing some “shinies” back to Aberystwyth.

Article kindly written by Stefani Dritsa

Best Adult – Steven Bailey
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore and Thomas Cowhig.
Best Young Junior Grade – Alex Devonport.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 16 stars and Thomas Cowhig.
Runner-up:  Cerys Scott with 8.5 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Alex Devonport, Daniel Cruickshank and Luca Serra-Thapa with 16 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Steven Bailey with 42 stars.
Runner-up: Meleri Pryse with 35 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 33 stars.

Mel’s European Championship medals – Silver for Cadet individual Kata and Bronze for Junior Team Kumite

Congratulations to Meleri Pryse and Steven Bailey from Ikkyo Aberystwyth Karate Club! Both students were selected to represent Wales in the European Championships, which took place in Portugal. They travelled with their Chief Instructor, Welsh Squad Kata Coach Paul James on Thursday 21st of November to spend a day training before the competition started on Friday 22nd of November.  Competition was fierce on the first day, with Meleri Pryse winning round after round before finally winning a hard-fought place in the final. She performed a near-perfect rendition of Gankaku, eventually taking home the silver. She was also a member of the Ladies Team Kumite (fighting) event, who all fought well, winning a place in the finals. They were eventually beaten by the host country’s team, despite a very strong showing, and won the bronze medal.

On the second day, fighting spirits were even higher, and it was the turn of Steven Bailey. He won a number of rounds in the Junior Male Kata event, before facing the current Junior World Champion Sam Biranvand from Sweden during the final round on his area. Winning this round would have taken him to the Semi Finals. Unfortunately, Steven’s competitor was on form again, beating everyone in the competition and regaining his European title for a second consecutive year.

Competitors are permitted to enter the category above as well as their own. Meleri, despite being a cadet, bravely entered the Junior Female Kata event and gave an incredible performance, eventually placing 6th overall in the competition narrowly missing out on the finals by just 0.3 points.

Steven also entered the senior category, performing well in the Senior Male Kata event, unfortunately meeting the current senior World Champion Hisham Saif in the second round.  A string of unlucky draws for Steven but some great performances none the less and at his rate of improvement he’ll be closing in on his rivals very soon.

Both students train incredibly hard as we’re sure you already know, and their accomplishments just show how dedication and hard training pay off.

Click through to watch the videos:

DSCF0643 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/m21MTwqo2Ms

DSCF0644 cadet kata Hannah
http://youtu.be/SqNj1Wx02SI

DSCF0645 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/WYq8PJOn99s

DSCF0646 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/OYVZfeHvtt0

DSCF0647 cadet team kumite Hannah
http://youtu.be/t1R7s_g–gw

DSCF0648 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/FK6XfYtRuQA

DSCF0649 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/vwhz_uGCap0

DSCF0650 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/GuM7EyH_JeA

DSCF0651 cadet team kumite Meleri
http://youtu.be/MVofxi2OeRw

DSCF0652 cadet kata final Meleri
http://youtu.be/e9HKEcNe1-k

DSCF0653 cadet Kata final Germany
http://youtu.be/W2EDlDk0cyM

DSCF0710 junior kata Lauren
http://youtu.be/SDKKcdlUIqQ

DSCF0711 junior kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/uSq_SQm5-6A

DSCF0712 junior kata Steve
http://youtu.be/5PAaCac-6A8

DSCF0713 junior kata Stefan
http://youtu.be/89KdEDxC0QY

DSCF0714 junior kata Steve
http://youtu.be/aXbk2wIHbt8

DSCF0715 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/5ZHIcGgrYMo

DSCF0716 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/olPw4Yq6dRM

DSCF0717 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/jxo9Wl6Rtp4

DSCF0718 junior kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/eKbeIwi52gc

DSCF0719 junior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/vhLDQapEq9s

DSCF0720 junior kata Germany
http://youtu.be/eo44nj1hO30

DSCF0721 junior kata Portugal
http://youtu.be/OYrcFMujx-U

DSCF0722 junior kata Sweden
http://youtu.be/atC2g7cQ1NY

DSCF0743 senior kata Lucy
http://youtu.be/1dYsVwSDmqM

DSCF0744 senior kata Lauren
http://youtu.be/2qkeR5Z5Oe8

DSCF0745 senior kata Kirstie
http://youtu.be/3nDHzTyY_pw

DSCF0746 senior kata Sefan
http://youtu.be/o1MudnrdU-8

DSCF0747 senior kata Mark
http://youtu.be/w4npIoDf730

DSCF0748 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/1IiWsdjqEuk

DSCF0749 senior kata Mark
http://youtu.be/Gb62AP3hrIQ

DSCF0750 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/SSvPSzogzis

DSCF0751 senior kata Lloyd
http://youtu.be/mveobsi7Yck

DSCF0752 senior kata semi finals 1
http://youtu.be/Fqu6PGClTMk

DSCF0753 senior kata semi finals 2
http://youtu.be/C6ALw6WHCY4

DSCF0755 senior kata semi finals 3
http://youtu.be/zn25maxwZBY

DSCF0757 senior kata semi finals 4
http://youtu.be/f9AzS9r4jWw

DSCF0759 senior kata semi finals 5
http://youtu.be/0oMD91PwiKA

DSCF0761 senior kata semi finals 6
http://youtu.be/OX81Odo9I3w

DSCF0763 senior kata semi finals 7
http://youtu.be/NUME-uinCxM

DSCF0765 senior kata semi finals 8
http://youtu.be/lp9tKblP0L4

DSCF0767 senior ladies kumite Lucy
http://youtu.be/G9FdJrj4eOI

DSCF0768 senior ladies kumite Kirstie
http://youtu.be/IgZioitdxGA

DSCF0769 senior ladies kumite Lauren
http://youtu.be/PIdvYG056a8

DSCF0770 senior mens kumite Jordan
http://youtu.be/7NYojn6U39w

DSCF0771 senior mens kumite Pip
http://youtu.be/HHgCaMFLEpY

DSCF0772 senior mens kumite Ross
http://youtu.be/aiXxn9U7jFk

DSCF0773 senior mens kumite Calum
http://youtu.be/VH8rqlKpKTI

DSCF0774 senior mens kumite Matt
http://youtu.be/nx0F2hPuqko

DSCF0775 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/Sdm8XhJW0RA

DSCF0776 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/rLAYimlAtUU

DSCF0777 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/YBg8L8pJoeM

DSCF0778 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/DPSgNswo2go

DSCF0779 senior kata final
http://youtu.be/spQNb2BMd_E

Congratulations to Anna Newbold, Christian Dickenson, Ivan Mitov, Jonathan Eve, Stefani Dritsa and Steven Bailey from Aberystwyth University’s club competed, as well as Christopher Davies and Rostislav Revako from the main dojo based at Penweddig School.

All competitors performed well on the day, with our team kata, consisting of Anna Newbold, Christian Dickenson and Stefani Dritsa, taking 5th place overall, and narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Rostislav Revako took bronze in the Men’s Black Belt fighting (kumite) event. Two of our members went head-to-head in the Men’s 7^th-1^st Kyu Kata event, with Christian Dickenson walking away with a bronze medal, and Christopher Davies taking home the silver. Finally Steven Bailey performed exceptionally well in the Men’s Black Belt Kata event, winning the silver.

Best Adult – Steven Bailey
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Daniel Cruickshank.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 17 stars.
Runner-up: Cerys Scott with 13 stars, and Lowri Scott with 13 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Daniel Cruickshank with 18 stars.
Runner-up: Luke Taylor with 18 stars, and Emily Keith with 16 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Steven Bailey with 37 stars.
Runner-up: Oliver Delf-Rowlandson with 36 stars, and Jonathan Eve with 22 stars.

Best Adult – Meleri Pryse
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luca Serra-Thapa.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 17 stars.
Runner-up: Thomas Cowhig with 16 stars, and Cerys Scott with 11 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luca Serra-Thapa with 18 stars.
Runner-up: Alex Devonport and Daniel Cruickshank with 15.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Meleri Pryse with 40 stars.
Runner-up: Steven Bailey with 33 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 24 stars.

Meleri Pryse takes the British u21s title for the second consecutive year!

Best Adult – Rosie Reading
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luke Taylor.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 8 stars.
Runner-up: Christopher Roberts with 5.5 stars, and Charlotte Smith (Tregaron) with 4 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luke Taylor with 11.5 stars.
Runner-up: Fergus Tiddeman and Alex Devonport with 4 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Rosie Reading with 15 stars.
Runner-up: Steven Bailey with 15 stars, and Peter Lochery with 11.5 stars.

Best Adult – Steven Bailey
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luke Taylor.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 17.5 stars.
Runner-up: Cerys Scott with 10 stars, and Lowri Scott with 10 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luke Taylor with 20 stars.
Runner-up: Alex Devonport with 15 stars, and Harrison Hinkin with 15 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Steven Bailey with 29 stars.
Runner-up: Christopher Davies with 21 stars, and Katharina Hoene with 19 stars.

Best Adult – Meleri Pryse
Best Young Senior Grade – Millie Hore.
Best Young Junior Grade – Luke Taylor.

Best Young Senior Grade – Winner: Millie Hore with 18.5 stars.
Runner-up: Lowri Scott with 16 stars, and Cerys Scott with 13.5 stars.

Best Young Junior Grade – Winner: Luke Taylor with 21 stars.
Runner-up: Ioan Reading with 17.5 stars.

Best Adult – Winner: Meleri Pryse with 37 stars.
Runner-up: Steven Bailey with 30.5 stars, and Stefani Dritsa with 25 stars.